Brazilian police clashed with civil servants who tried to enter Congress on today in growing protests against deep cuts to their pension benefits sought by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Riot police, carrying shields, batons and wearing helmets, surrounded the entrance to Brasilia's Congress building and scuffled with civil servants as they tried to enter the lower house chamber to protest for a second day.
About 150 civil servants tried to push their way into Congress.
They were angry with Lula, who came to power in January, for pushing ahead with his reform of the debt-ridden public pension system for civil servants. The effort has prompted strikes and alienated a group that for years was one of the most faithful supporters of Lula's Workers' Party.
Federal and state judges have promised to strike next week, the first time in Brazil's history the group will have taken such action.
"This is a public house, I have every right to enter," shouted Mario do Carmo, a civil servant who came from Rio de Janeiro. "If this reform passes, I will have to work seven years more."
Civil servants have generous benefits, including being allowed to retire with pensions equal to their last salary, which has contributed to Brazil's debt burden of about $240 billion.
Last year, the government spent 5 percent of gross domestic product on public pensions.
It is proposing to raise retirement ages, impose a levy on the pensions of retired workers and eventually cap pensions at $845 per month.