Murder rate soars in Brazil state as police strike
The authorities in Brazil say 147 persons have been murdered in the north-eastern state of Ceará in the first five days of a military police strike.
The homicide rate is five times greater than usual, regardless of the deployment of the army to patrol the streets.
The violence has resulted in the cancellation of carnival festivities in a number of cities at what is the height of the summertime holiday season.
The police began their strike on 19 February, demanding a pay rise.
Cops are banned from going on strike under Brazilian law, and the other day a court in Ceará ruled that those defying the ban could face prison.
A lot more than 200 striking police officers have already been suspended in recent days.
On Monday, Defence Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva and Justice Minister Sergio Moro found its way to Ceará's capital Fortaleza to oversee the army's response to the policing crisis.
"The situation is currently in order," Mr Moro said.
Last week, Brazilian Senator Cid Gomes was injured after shots were fired at him throughout a stand-off with striking police in Ceará's town of Sobral.
The 56-year-old senator was driving a digger towards a fence behind which several masked military police officers were protesting when he was hit by two bullets.
He's now in hospital in a stable condition.
