Rio opens Carnival celebrations despite violence

The Rio Carnival officially got under way when the key to the Brazilian capital city was handed over to “Rei Momo”, or Fat King.

This year, party preparations have been overshadowed by drug gangs who burned city buses, strafed police posts and supermarkets and tossed home-made bombs at residential buildings.

Most of the violence took place on Monday, but outbreaks later in the week led the government to order 3,000 soldiers into the streets to keep peace, along with 36,000 police officers. Elite police units were sent to key shanty towns controlled by drug gangs.

“If the police don’t help out it could ruin everything, but I think it’ll turn out all right,” said Wagner Rocha Goncalves, 23, who was preparing to parade with the Rocinha samba group.

Banks, stores and government offices nationwide shut down for the non-stop celebrations which run until noon on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a period of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter.

Except for minor violence in Sao Paulo, most of the rest of the country was calm ahead of Carnival.

The highlight of Brazil celebration’s is Rio’s Carnival parade on Sunday and Monday nights. It features 14 top samba ”schools” – actually neighbourhood groups, mainly from poor communities – that have spent the year preparing for their moment of glory.

Thousands of revellers cheer on each group, with up to 4,000 costumed dancers and drummers, as they parade along the 700-yard Sambadrome stadium in the city centre.

Rio tourism authorities expect 400,000 out-of-town visitors. Hotel operators say they had not noticed any cancellations due to the unrest.