PM militarized police personnel in riot gear fire tear gas at protestors blocking the road before the long-distance bus terminal during the nationwide strike called by unions opposing austerity reforms in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 28, 2017. / AFP.
Brasilia: Violence has erupted in Brazil at the end of the country's first general strike in more than 20 years.
Buses and cars have been set on fire in Rio de Janeiro's city center. Road blocks set up by activists were also ablaze and shops were vandalized, following the general strike called by trade unions in protest at proposed pension reforms.
For most of the day the strike had been largely peaceful. Many people stayed at home and shops, schools and banks remained closed across the country.
In Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, thousands of demonstrators marched on the President's private residence. Police fired teargas to disperse the crowd.
President Michel Temer said he regretted the incidents in Rio. But he stressed that he would continue his "efforts to modernize the country".
Brazilian workers and the government are working together, he said, to get the country out of "the worst recession in its history".
The trade unions say that the poorest in Brazil will bear the cost of the changes, which include raising retirement age and reducing benefits.
The government argues that the measures are needed to avoid a collapse of the pension system.
