
Thousands of Brazilians and visitors gathered at Rio de Janeiro's Rodrigo de Freitas Lake to witness the lighting of the world largest floating Christmas tree with 3.3 million lights.

Brazilian president Lula da Silva promised full support from the federal government to Rio de Janeiro authorities involved in a clean-up operation to free the city’s shanty towns, favelas, from drug traffickers and organized crime.

Armoured personnel carriers from the Brazilian navy rolled through smoke-filled streets in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday as police battled (favelas) slum-based drug gangs for a fifth consecutive day leaving at least 30 dead and almost 200 arrested.