Gangsters step up resistance to army
published: Saturday | March 11, 2006

RIO DE JANEIRO,

Brazil (Reuters):

DRUG GANGS stepped up resistance to an army operation in the slums of Rio de Janeiro yesterday, trading gunfire with troops in at least three shantytowns.

In the Providencia slum, gunmen caused panic when they opened fire on soldiers who were trying to break up a demonstration by residents opposed to the army presence.

"They shot into my house. How can someone live like this?" one resident said after the morning violence.

Witnesses have seen gangsters, usually clad in shorts and T-shirts, wearing masks and communicating via walkie-talkies from rooftops and corners of the dense favelas.