Thousands of anti-government demonstrators again took to streets in several Brazilian cities today after the president broke a long silence to promise reforms, but the early protests were smaller than those of recent days and with only scattered reports of violence.

A notorious Brazilian criminal gang has unleashed a second wave of attacks against police, bringing to at least 52 the number of people killed in what one official called the deadliest assault of its kind in Brazil’s history.

FORMER shoeshine boy-turned union firebrand Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva celebrated yesterday after becoming Brazil’s first elected left-wing president.