Brazil police occupy Rio slums

Police moved into 13 slums in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro Sunday, as part of the government's policy of clamping down on crime in the lead-up to next year's FIFA World Cup football games. Police moved into the 13 slums, or "favelas," collectively known as Lins located near the Joao Havelange Stadium, one of the World Cup venues, in what is officially known as a "pacification" campaign of the city's poor crime-ridden neighborhoods. According to Rio's Security Secretariat, city slums have for decades been under the control of drug traffickers. The operation, backed by the military in 14 tanks, saw more than 1,000 police pour into the slum neighborhoods, home to about 15,000 residents, in less than an hour. No one was hurt in the early-morning operation and no shots were fired, with authorities having announced the measure in advance. The move will be followed by the installation of at least one Pacification Police Unit (UPP), a police station where the special force will be headquartered. On Wednesday, 10 members of a pacification police force were charged with torturing and killing a construction worker who went missing in July from the city's largest slum, Rocinha. His case led to calls for greater human rights reforms. The pacification campaign has been ongoing since 2009, as Brazil readies to host large-scale international sporting events, with more than 30 UPPs established in favelas around the city. The Joao Havelange Stadium, located in northern Rio, is also expected to host the 2016 Olympic Games.