Pubdate: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 Source: Detroit Free Press (MI) Copyright: 2003 Detroit Free Press Contact: http://www.freep.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/125 DRUG WARS HAVE RIO ON EDGE AS CARNIVAL BEGINS RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Army tanks, 3,000 troops and 35,000 police officers patrolled Rio's streets Sunday for the start of the city's glittering Carnival parades. Security was tight after four people were killed and dozens of cars and buses torched last week in violence blamed on drug gangs. But there have been few reports of violence involving the revelers themselves. One exception was an American tourist shot in the leg Sunday in a traffic dispute. He was not killed. Many nations celebrate Carnival, especially in Latin America. But Rio's parades are the most famous. The city's tourism authorities said they expect 400,000 out-of-town visitors for this year's Carnival. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk