A man holds a sign that reads in Portuguese: "Corruption: Heinous crime," at an anti-government protest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 21, 2013.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has urged calm after a week of massive protests against what demonstrators say is the government＇s neglect of public services, high taxes and rampant corruption.
Rousseff addressed the nation on television late Friday. She said peaceful demonstrations are what make a strong democracy, but vowed that protest-related violence would not be tolerated.
Brazil＇s president held an emergency Cabinet meeting earlier in the day to discuss the intensifying protest movement that has continued despite government concessions.
Hundreds gathered in several cities Friday, including Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
On Thursday, at least one million protesters rallied in dozens of cities across Brazil, including at least 300,000 in Rio de Janeiro, where police fired tear gas to contain the crowds.
President Rousseff has already called off a trip to Japan planned for next week to respond to the protests, the country＇s biggest in two decades.
The protests were originally triggered by an increase in bus and subway fares, but protesters have since focused on government neglect.
Protesters have been undeterred by the news that Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have scrapped plans to increase public transportation fees.
The protests also are targeting the billions of dollars being spent to host the 2016 Summer Games, next year＇s World Cup and this month＇s Confederations Cup.
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