Dozen Arrests, Tear Gas at Salvador Cup Demo
Brazilian police made 11 arrests and used tear gas to disperse anti-World Cup demonstrators Friday in the northeastern city of Salvador.
Military police told AFP the arrests had been for "vandalism" in the city located just five kilometers (three miles) from the Fonte Nova stadium where the Netherlands beat reigning champions Spain in their opening group match.
Some protesters threw stones at vehicles on display at automobile dealers and also cars parked in the streets, according to police.
Online news portal G1 indicated some 100 protesters angry at the $11 billion cost of the World Cup attended the demonstration. Police declined to give a figure.
Thursday saw smaller anti-World Cup demonstrations of a few hundred people each in six of the 12 host cities before Brazil scored a 3-1 victory in the tournament's opening game in Sao Paulo.
Preparations for the event were marred by the late delivery of several stadiums and facilities as well as by dozens of demonstrations, some of them violent.
Many Brazilians say the World Cup cash would have been better directed at poor public services and on upgrading poor public health, education and transport.
Last year saw more than a million people nationwide take to the streets in anti-Cup marches during the Confederations Cup dress rehearsal event.
But the protests of recent days have been small and millions of Brazilians donned the yellow and green national colors ahead of the Croatia game as a party atmosphere finally broke out across the country.
Source: Agence France Presse
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