Troops pull out of Brazil capital; president under pressure
BRASILIA, Brazil — Brazil’s president on Thursday cancelled an order that sent soldiers into the streets of the capital, following criticism that the move was excessive and merely an effort to maintain power amid increasing calls for his resignation.
In a decree published in the Official Diary, President Michel Temer revoked the order issued a day earlier, “considering the halt to acts of destruction and violence and the subsequent reestablishment of law and order.” On Thursday afternoon, soldiers began to leave their posts in Brasilia, the Defence Ministry said.
The troops were deployed late Wednesday following a day of clashes between police and protesters demanding Temer’s ouster amid allegations against him of corruption. Fires broke out in two ministries and several were evacuated. Protesters also set fires in the streets and vandalized government buildings.
Images in national media, meanwhile, appeared to show police officers firing weapons, and the Secretariat of Public Security said it was investigating. In all 49, people were injured, including one by a bullet. The person was shot in the jaw and was sedated and in serious condition Thursday evening, the Secretariat of Health said.