Over 200,000 stage protests in Brazil

Riot police confronts demonstrators in Belo Horizonte in Brazil. Photo: BBC Online

Over 200,000 people marched through the streets of Brazil's biggest cities on Tuesday, protesting over rising public transport costs and the expense of staging the 2014 World Cup.

The protests have spread into 11 major cities including Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro, where protesters have been reported to clash with law enforcers, reports BBC News.

In the capital, Brasilia, people breached security at the National Congress building and scaled its roof.

Stone-throwing youths clashed with police in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

The police reportedly used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse them.

The protests are the largest seen in Brazil for more than 20 years.

The trigger was a June 2 increase in the price of a single bus fare in Sao Paulo from 3 reals ($1.40) to 3.20. Authorities said the rise was well below inflation, which since the last price increase in January 2011 has been 15.5%, according to official figures.

In the country soon due to host the World Cup and Olympics, many are now complaining that vast sums of money are being wasted instead of used for health and education, says the BBC's Gary Duffy from Sao Paulo.

Demonstrators chanted slogans, including "The people have awakened", the BBC's Julia Carneiro reports from Sao Paulo.

"Peaceful demonstrations are legitimate," President Dilma Rousseff said in a statement. "It is natural for the young to demonstrate."

However, Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo warned protesters that the authorities would not allow them to disrupt the Confederations Cup or next year's World Cup.

"The government assumed the responsibility and the honour to stage these two international events and will do so, ensuring the security and integrity of the fans and tourists," he said.