Indigenous protesters in traditional headdress have squared off against Brazilian police mounted on horses in the nation's capital, just outside a new soccer stadium that will host World Cup matches.
In clashes broadcast live on television yesterday, riot police fired tear gas into small pockets of protesters, some of whom picked up gas canisters and threw them back at officers, along with stones and pieces of wood.
Some of the demonstrators were armed with bows and arrows, and fired a few arrows at mounted police.
Police said they had no information on any injuries during the rally, which saw about 300 protesters gather in Brasilia's main area. The clashes ended by nightfall.
Indigenous activists were there to complain about legislation before congress that threatens to shrink the size of some reserves for indigenous groups.
They were joined by demonstrators rallying against Brazil's hosting of the World Cup. Many Brazilians are angered about the billions being spent on the tournament, saying the money should have gone to improving Brazil's woeful public services.
Brazil has seen almost daily protests in the weeks leading up to the World Cup, which begins June 12. Last year, huge anti-government protests took over streets in dozens of cities during the Confederations Cup, which is international soccer's warm-up tournament for its premier event, the World Cup.
Recent protests have been far smaller than those seen last year, when a total of 1 million people took to the streets across Brazil on a single night.
Elsewhere in the country yesterday, about 500 teachers peacefully rallied on a main avenue in Sao Paulo, South America's largest city. The educators have been on strike for about a month, demanding higher salaries.
