Raid on Rio slum in World Cup purge

Tuesday 21 June 2011 00:00 BST

(AP)

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Brazilian police have raided another slum dominated by drug-trafficking gangs in an ongoing programme to bring peace to areas near Maracana stadium, ahead of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

Hundreds of police officers and troops invaded the Mangueira shanty town, supported by helicopters and several armoured vehicles. The Rio state public security director, Jose Beltrame, said that police have taken control of the slum without any exchange of gunfire. Seventeen other shanty towns have already been pacified by security forces as they take control of the city's poorest communities.

Maracana will host the World Cup Final and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics.

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Raid on Rio slum in World Cup purge

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