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Brazil security tight for Carnival
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- Army tanks, 3,000 troops and 35,000 police officers patrolled Rio de Janeiro's streets Sunday for the start of the city's glittering Carnival parades. Security was tight as authorities sought a solution to a week of shootouts that killed four people and saw dozens of buses and cars burned out, and buildings strafed with machine guns. In one isolated incident, a U.S. tourist was shot in the leg early Sunday morning while walking along the Copacabana beachfront in what appeared to be an attempted robbery. The tourist -- who police have refused to identify -- was recovering in a local hospital. Police said they weren't sure if the man was shot because he tried to fend off the attacker or because he did not understand what the robber wanted. Overall, the army reported that the streets were quiet, as Brazilians got on with the serious task of partying. The last sequins were being sewn on to skimpy bikinis of Rio's famed samba dancers and final touches were being made to floats as the first seven schools, each featuring 4,000 or more dancers, luxurious floats and 300-piece percussion sections, prepared to parade down the famous Sambadrome stadium Sunday evening.
This year's themes touch on some of the more serious issues in Brazilian society including social inequality and the environment, but the carnival parades could not forget the success of a record fifth soccer World Cup won in 2002, and the Tradicao school will tell of Brazil's unequaled successes in that sport, paying special tribute to Real Madrid striker Ronaldo. The parade continues Monday night with the last seven schools. They'll be judged on best music, costumes, originality, floats, percussion and enthusiasm and the winner earns bragging rights until next year. In Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city and financial capital, the two-night samba parade closed Sunday morning, with X-9 and Mocidade drawing the biggest cheers on the second evening. Final results will be published on Tuesday. The northeastern city of Salvador lays claim to the title of "Brazil's best Carnival," with dozens of huge sound trucks known as electric trios leading mobs of dancers through the streets, and where roaming gangs of men and women plant whopping kisses on unsuspecting partyers. The queen of the Salvador carnival is Brazilian pop icon Daniela Mercury, whose sound wagon set out early Sunday morning with dozens of other popstars onboard and thousands of partygoers in pursuit as she thrashed out some of her biggest hits, including "Pais Tropical" (Tropical Country). On Sunday evening, culture minister Gilberto Gil was expected to return to Salvador to give a show on the streets of his home town. The only person who isn't joining in all the fun is President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who took office January 1 and is recovering from the exertions of office at his residence in the capital, Brasilia, with his family. The celebration officially ends on Ash Wednesday, when this predominantly Roman Catholic nation slowly straggles back to work. But in Salvador and other northeastern cities, the party keeps going all week. Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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