Brazil awoke to city centres still smouldering after a night that shocked the nation: One million anti- government protesters took to the streets in scores of cities, with clusters battling police and destroying swaths of storefronts and buildings.

Brazil awoke today to city centres still smouldering after a night that shocked the nation: one million protesters took to the streets in scores of cities, with clusters clashing violently with police during anti-government demonstrations.

Italy has become the first EU country to recall its ambassador to Syria in protest at the repression of anti-government demonstrations and urged other nations do the same.