Protests in Brazil against bus and underground fare rises have turned violent in the country’s largest city, Sao Paulo, with violence also reported at protests in Rio de Janeiro.
Police fired rubber-coated bullets and tear gas, detaining some 40 people in centre of Sao Paulo.
Police say they seized petrol bombs, knives and drugs.
At least 55 people have been injured in the Sao Paulo clashes, says the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.
The newspaper says six of its journalists have been wounded, two of them shot in the face.
Police have been trying to contain the demonstrators.
They have now reached the city’s main avenue, Avenida Paulista, where many shops were vandalised on Tuesday following a bus fare hike protest.
State governor Geraldo Alckmin branded the rioters “vandals” and promised to act to avoid a repeat of the violence.
“The police acted with professionalism,” Mr Alckmin said, rejecting claims that they had used excessive force.
Brazil’s Minister of Justice, Jose Eduardo Cardozo, said the demonstrations were legitimate but resorting to violence and vandalism was unacceptable.
In Rio de Janeiro and other cities, thousands marched to demand that an increase in fares be revoked.
Prices for a single ticket in Sao Paulo were raised on 2 June from 3 reals ($1.40, £0.90) to 3.20 reals ($1.50, £0.96).
The authorities say that the rise is well below inflation, which since the last price rise in January 2011 has been at 15,5% according to official figures.
I'm from Sao Paulo and I have something to say: We have the WORST police. The the protest yesterday was PACIFIC and violence came from the police.
They aren't prepareted, they're violent and corrupted.
I needed the police once in a trouble in a shopping mall, a drunked man hit me and my boyfriend. We called the cops, they came to the mall and said: "I'm afraid but there's nothing we can do."
I know many people that had the same answer from the police.
When they stop your car, they they beat you and put you down.
Last year, the biggest criminal faction in Brazil (PCC) attacked Sao Paulo and others cities, the police didn't act so violently as now. They are treating protestants worse than they treated the criminals.
I love my city, I love my country, I'm prouded to be Brazilian, it's really sad to see the government being indifferent to the fact that public transport is woeful and doesn't worth the price we have to pay using our shameful minimum wage and still be restrained by a police totally unprepared and troglodyte. We're starting to live a new dictatorship.
Education teaches through the political science, this is also the branch of the social sciences. In which we can get information about the duties and responsibilities of citizens for states. And as it are the duties and responsibilities of state for citizens.
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