RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazilian media report 78 people have been murdered in and around the northeastern city of Salvador since the start of a state police strike there five days ago.
The local A Tarde daily reports five people were killed early Sunday, including a 13-year-old girl. The government news service Agencia Brasil has said the number of killings during the strike was more than double the number in the same period last year.
Many concerts marking the run-up to Carnival were canceled, and Brazilian television showed Salvador's normally bustling streets largely deserted Saturday night.
About 10,000 of Bahia state's 30,000 police are on strike, demanding better pay and bonuses. Some 2,000 Brazilian army soldiers and a contingent of federal police troops have stepped in to patrol Salvador.
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