Pubdate: Tue, 01 Oct 2002
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2002 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Section: World Briefing
Author: Larry Rohter

BRAZIL: GANG ORDER SHUTS RIO

In a show of strength said to be aimed at securing better living conditions 
for its imprisoned leader, Rio de Janeiro's most powerful criminal gang has 
forced schools, businesses and public transport throughout the city to shut 
down. Followers of Fernandinho Beira-Mar, a drug lord with ties to 
Colombian guerrillas who has been indicted in the United States, have 
issued such orders before in slum areas they control, but this action, 
which was successful despite police efforts to encourage shops to stay 
open, also affected exclusive neighborhoods, including Ipanema and Copacabana.
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