Troops occupy Rio slum in "historic" operation

[hue]

Source: Reuters

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Three thousand troops backed by helicopters and armored cars occupied Rio de Janeiro's largest slum without firing a shot on Sunday, the biggest step in the Brazilian city's bid to improve security and end the reign of drug gangs.

The occupation of Rocinha, a notorious hillside "favela" that overlooks some of Rio's swankiest areas, is a crucial part of the city's preparations to host soccer's World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics two years later.

Security forces have occupied nearly 20 slums in the past three years but none as symbolically or strategically important as Rocinha, a sprawl of shacks, stores and evangelical churches located at a traffic choke point between the main city and western areas where most Olympic events will be held.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/troops-occupy-rio-slum-historic-operation-134250635.html;_ylt=AtbMjPf0.kDBNwKvZM26otWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNpc2t0amRiBG1pdAMEcGtnA2I2OGNlMzBlLWRhYTItMzBjZi1hNjYxLWE4YjE1MWIyNmEwZgRwb3MDMQRzZWMDbG5fTGF0ZXN0TmV3c19nYWwEdmVyA2Q5NmUzMTcw

---

...getting ready for the Olympics... would never up otherwise...