Army to Patrol Crime-Laden Streets in Rio de Janeiro

Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral has formally requested that the army intervene to contain the violence that has been spiraling out of control in Rio de Janeiro.

Cabral made the request as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the city. Offers of federal troops to help quell the violence were rejected under the previous governor, who was replaced January 1.

“There are 6,000 marines who could be helping out. I’m not going to spend four years at the funerals of police and civilians. The people are in a state of panic, it’s time to join forces,” Cabral said.

The crime-plagued city earlier requested federal help after gang members attacked police stations and burned buses in late December. Some 19 people died in the street violence, including eight who were incinerated in a bus after criminals robbed passengers and set it ablaze.

Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’s most violent city with an annual homicide rate of 50 per 100,000 people. While the violence is usually confined to poor shantytowns, some of the crime in December spilled into well-heeled beach districts frequented by tourists.