RIO DE JANEIRO More than 5 000 anti government protesters marched Sunday near the Maracana stadium before a major international soccer match venting their anger about the billions of dollars the Brazilian government is spending on major sporting events rather than public services.
Sharp clashes broke out several hundred yards (meters) away from the stadium about 30 minutes before the game began as a minor scuffle between police and a few protesters escalated.
Officers quickly quashed the unrest unleashing a barrage of tear gas canisters and stun grenades scattering the crowd but not before some protesters retaliated with Molotov cocktails and powerful fireworks. At one point an officer ran into a nearby gas station and told several people holed up inside they needed to get out or they were all going to die here
Though smaller in size the march was the latest in a wave of protests that has spread across this continent sized country in recent weeks. Many are calling the protest movement the biggest seen here in decades with more than 1 million people having taken to the streets nationwide on just the night of June 20.
The demonstrations have dwindled in size and frequency in recent days as officials from all levels of government have scrambled to calm public anger with woeful public services and a heavy tax burden.
Still the atmosphere was tense outside Maracana on Sunday. Some clusters of protesters tried to break through the security perimeter police set up around the stadium but were pushed back and not able to get past authorities.
Despite the smaller protests demonstrator Eliane Milazzo a 54 year old high school teacher marching with her daughter and son in law said the Brazilian people won't let their leaders off the hook and that the protests will go on.
They've got to continue because the reasons people are out on the street are not going to go away overnight she said. I know I will continue to go to the streets and so will my family until we see real changes in our everyday lives.
President Dilma Rousseff has suffered the brunt of the political damage. The first national poll conducted after the protests ignited showed a steep drop in her approval rating and throws in doubt what had seemed an easy re election next year.
Rousseff decided to not attend Sunday's final match of the Confederations Cup football tournament which pits Brazil against Spain in what's seen as a warm up for next year's World Cup to be hosted in Brazil.
Other top government officials and even football legend Pele are also skipping the match in a major embarrassment for a government that had hoped to use the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio to showcase Brazil's arrival as a global power.
People are angry with Congress angry with the terrible hospitals and worse schools said Tania Nobrega a 56 year old psychologist protesting near Maracana in Rio. But they don't want Dilma's head. People are sick of the status quo here and that means they're fed up not only with the (ruling Workers Party) but also with all parties.
The demonstrations began earlier this month over a 10 cent hike in bus and subway fare in Sao Paulo before morphing into a nationwide movement denouncing a range of problems such as government corruption poor education and health care.
The sudden outrage has bewildered the country's political class which took several days to find their footing and respond to the demonstrations both with words and action.
Several city and state governments reversed the hike on public transportation fares that sparked the first protests but the demonstrators had moved well beyond that issue.
On June 21 Rousseff delivered a prerecorded prime time speech on TV that did little to calm the protests. She then convened a June 24 meeting with protest leaders and all the governors and mayors of capital cities in which she announced $23 billion in new transportation investments. She also said she would import foreign doctors to work in underserved areas while promising a five point plan to focus on public services and corruption.
The president is expected to deliver to Congress early this week her proposal for a national plebiscite letting citizens vote on political reforms.
The protests have mostly died down since the proposals were made.
The Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported Sunday that 490 protests had taken place in Brazil in the last three weeks peaking at 150 on June 20 when violent clashes between protesters and police were seen in several cities.
Many demonstrators have said they had learned their mass actions could prompt a quick government response. They also said they anticipated other high profile events they could use to speak out including July's visit by Pope Francis next year's World Cup a presidential election a few months later and the Rio Olympics three years from now.
I don't think the demonstrations will stop people from coming to the World Cup but I hope they don't come said Tatiana Poggi a history professor at Sunday's protest near Maracana. It's a way foreigners help us protest. Boycott the big event.
Brazilian officials were doing all they could to make sure Sunday's protests didn't interrupt the finals match which would be watched by millions around the world.
Officials were mobilizing the biggest security operation yet seen for a football game in Brazil with about 6 000 regular police and almost 500 police investigators patrolling the area around Maracana and a large contingent of elite federal troops also on patrol.
No clashes between protesters and police were reported a few hours before the match was set to begin but demonstrators remained fierce in their anti government chants.
Here in Brazil we took too long to wake up to discover they spent billions on stadiums but they say there's no money for hospitals no supplies for doctors said protester Mariela Simao. They tried to take action to show the population they are doing something but they could do more.
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AP writers Rob Harris and Stephen Wade in Rio de Janeiro and Bradley Brooks in Sao Paulo contributed to this report.
Loading Slideshow Demonstrators wave their country's national flag on Paulista Avenue where crowds gathered to celebrate the reversal of a fare hike on public transportation in Sao Paulo Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. President Dilma Rousseff called an emergency meeting of her top Cabinet members for Friday morning more than a week after the protests began. But the protests that raged across Brazil late Thursday and into Friday were spiked with violence as people vented anger over a litany of complaints from high taxes to corruption to rising prices. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)
Crowds gather along Paulista Avenue to celebrate the reversal of a fare hike on public transportation after days of protest in Sao Paulo Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)
Demonstrators confront Brazilian police on horseback during a protest in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Lorena Dias poses for a photo holding a sign that reads in Portuguese I don't ride the bus but I want respect at an anti government protest in Brasilia Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. The 15 year old student says This is the time to change so much that is wrong in Brazil and it's young people who are leading the way. I see a sign of hope in this movement. (AP Photo/Marco Sibaja)
Demonstrators gather during an anti government protest in front of the Brazilian National Congress in Brasilia Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Demonstrators lie in front of a police line during an anti government protest in front of the Brazilian National Congress in Brasilia Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
People gather behind the Candelaria church for an anti government protest in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
People shout slogans during an anti government demonstration in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
In this photo released by Agencia Brasil police repel demonstrators trying to invade the Foreign Ministry during an anti government protest in Brasilia Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. Police struggled to keep hundreds of protesters from invading the Foreign Ministry outside of which protesters lit a small fire. (AP Photo/Agencia Brasil Valter Campanato)
In this photo released by Agencia Brasil military police approach protestors trying to invade the Foreign Ministry during an anti government protest in Brasilia Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. (AP Photo/Agencia Brasil Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom)
A police officer detains a man after finding a rock in his pocket during an anti government demonstration in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
An anti riot policeman throws a sound grenade to disperse a group of demonstrators near the Arena Fonte Nova soccer stadium before a Confederations Cup soccer match between Nigeria and Uruguay in Salvador Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Military police detain a man during an anti government protest in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Thursday June 20 2013. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
A demonstrator is arrested by anti riot police officers after clashes erupted during a protest against corruption and price hikes on June 20 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
Demonstrators march during a demonstration in Sao Paulo Brazil on June 20 2013 during a protest of what is now called the 'Tropical Spring' against corruption and price hikes. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
Demonstrators march during a demonstration in Sao Paulo Brazil on June 20 2013 during a protest of what is now called the 'Tropical Spring' against corruption and price hikes. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
Demonstrators stand next to a fire during a protest part of what is now called the 'Tropical Spring' against corruption and price hikes on June 20 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. (LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)
Riot police officers confront demonstrators after clashes erupted during a protest against corruption and price hikes on June 20 2013 in Rio de Janeiro as the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 is being held in the country. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
A demonstrator is shot by rubber bullets as anti riot police officers charge after clashes erupted during a protest against corruption and price hikes on June 20 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
A demonstrator holds a sign reading 'It's not for cents but for rights' on June 20 2013 in Belo Horizonte state of Minas Gerais during a protest part of what is now called the 'Tropical Spring' against corruption and price hikes. (Pedro VILELA/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti riot police officers fire rubber bullets after clashes erupted during a protest against corruption and price hikes on June 20 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
Thousands of people march on June 20 2013 in Belo Horizonte state of Minas Gerais during a protest part of what is now called the 'Tropical Spring' against corruption and price hikes. (Pedro VILELA/AFP/Getty Images)
Two demonstrators hold a comic reading 'Silveira do not yet shoot. I guess that one on the left is your son' during a protest of what is now called the 'Tropical Spring' against corruption and price hikes in Rio de Janeiro on June 20 2013. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
Demonstrators march after clashes erupted during a protest against corruption and price hikes on June 20 2013 in Rio de Janeiro as the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 is being held in the country. (NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)
A Brazilian national flag flutters as demonstrators hold posters during a roadblock to protest against corruption and price hikes on June 20 2013 in Belo Horizonte as the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 is being held in the country. (YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Mounted riot police officers march along a street after clashes erupted during a protest against corruption and price hikes on June 20 2013 in Rio de Janeiro as the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 is being held in the country. (NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)
Demonstrators confront the riot police after clashes erupted during a protest against corruption and price hikes on June 20 2013 in Rio de Janeiro as the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 is being held in the country. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
Students shout slogans while a trash can burns during a protest of what is now called the 'Tropical Spring' against corruption and price hikes at National Congress in Brasilia on June 20 2013. (EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti riot police officers ask demonstrators leave the streets after clashes erupted during a protest against corruption and price hikes on June 20 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
Demonstrators set debris on fire during a protest of what is now called the 'Tropical Spring' against corruption and price hikes at National Congress in Brasilia on June 20 2013. (EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images)
Demonstrators knock down a fence during a protest of what is now called the 'Tropical Spring' against corruption and price hikes at National Congress in Brasilia on June 20 2013. (EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images)
A passer by looks at the broken window of a bank attacked overnight by demonstrators on Presidente Vargas avenue in downtown Rio de Janeiro on June 21 2013 early morning. (PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP/Getty Images)
A military police officer pepper sprays a protester during a demonstration in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
Protestors are reflected on the glass of a building left as they march in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. Protests in Sao Paulo Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian cities set off by a 10 cent hike in public transport fares have clearly moved beyond that issue to tap into widespread frustration in Brazil about a heavy tax burden politicians widely viewed as corrupt and woeful public education health and transport systems and come as the nation hosts the Confederations Cup soccer tournament and prepares for next month's papal visit. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A military police removes journalists from near the Rio de Janeiro state legislature background during a demonstration in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
A protester looks at vandalized cash machines at a bank during a demonstration in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
A police officer second from right holds an electroshock gun as another policeman is dragged by colleagues during clashes with demonstrators outside the state legislative assembly in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Nicolas Tanner)
A policeman lies injured on the ground after clashing with demonstrators during a protest in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A demonstrator shouts during a protests in Sao Paulo Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)
Demonstrators carry a sign reading in Portuguese 'No to violence' in Brasilia Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Demonstrators shout during a protest in front of the Brazilian National Congress in Brasilia Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Protesters try to invade the state assembly during a protest in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Nicolas Tanner)
Protesters carrying fire bombs and firecrackers walk up the stairs as they try to enter the sate assembly during a protest in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Nicolas Tanner)
A masked protestor stands in front of the state assembly building during a protest in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Nicolas Tanner)
Demonstrators try to enter the perimeter of the government palace during a protest against a price increase for public transportation in Sao Paulo Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)
A demonstrator waves a Brazilian flag during a protest in Sao Paulo Brazil Monday June 17 2013. Protesters massed in at least seven Brazilian cities Monday for another round of demonstrations voicing disgruntlement about life in the country raising questions about security during big events like the current Confederations Cup and a papal visit next month. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)
Protestors gather at the Municipal theater during a march in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A riot police officer holds a weapon during clashes in Rio de Janeiro's downtown on June 17 2013. Youths clashed with police in central Rio Monday as more than 200 000 people marched in major Brazilian cities to protest the billions of dollars spent on the Confederations Cup and higher public transport costs. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
A protester kicks a gas canister during a demonstration a in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. Thousands took to the streets in largely peaceful protests in at least eight cities in Brazil Monday demonstrations that voiced the deep frustrations Brazilians feel about carrying heavy tax burdens but receiving woeful returns in public education health security and transportation. Officers in Rio fired tear gas and rubber bullets when a group of protesters invaded the state legislative assembly and later vandalized and looted properties in the area. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
An injured demonstrator is helped by fellow protesters and treated by a doctor left who said the man was shot in the shoulder during a protest in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. It was not clear who shot the man. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Demonstrators gesture next to a burning barricade during a protest in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Monday June 17 2013. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
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