BRAZIL - Over a million people are expected to flood Brazil's
streets Sunday in huge anti-government protests calling for President Dilma
Rousseff's removal over a corruption scandal and the decaying economy.
Latin America's biggest country, which will host the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this August, is in severe economic and political crisis, with fears that the demonstrations could activate rattles.
"I am appealing for there not to be violence," Rousseff told Brazilian media late Saturday. "I think all people have a right to be on the streets. However, no one has a right to be violent. No one."
The largest demonstration is expected in Sao Paulo, the country's financial capital and main opposition stronghold. Authorities said they were invigorating for a million protesters.
Earlier in the day, large demonstrations are to kick off in Rio and Brasilia. Planners said some 400 cities in all would stage protests.
"This widespread determination is organized and gaining influence," said Bonifacio de Andrada, a deputy from the opposition PSDB party. "People will take to the streets for large demonstrations to demand a change of government."
Rousseff became disliked because of a huge corruption scandal centered on state oil company Petrobras and because of her management of the country's worst recession in decades - faces accusation in Congress.
Her chief counsellor in the leftist Workers' Party, ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is fighting claims that he was part of the Petrobras corruption network. As if that weren't enough, the PMDB party, Rousseff's vital partner in a shaky government alliance, indicated Saturday that it could pull out in 30 days.
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