Brazil police tear gas protesters

Police used tear gas, stun grenades, and fired rubber bullets to break up a demonstration involving just a few dozen protesters gathered near a subway station in Sao Paulo on Thursday.

Some of the demonstrators held up a banner that read: "If we have no rights, there won't be a Cup." They also said they planned to march as close as they could to Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena, where the host nation is to kick of the World Cup in their opening match against Croatia later in the day.

"The objective is to put an end to the World Cup. We realize we're not going to achieve it, but we believe Brazilians should rise up," one of the demonstrators, Gregory Leao told the AFP news agency.

Later, the number of demonstrators appeared to grow as they regrouped a few blocks away. They were again confronted by riot police, who again fired tear gas.

At least five people have been injured in Thursday's clashes, according to a military spokesman quoted by the Reuters news agency.

Police also reported that at least one person had been arrested.

There was also a demonstration in Rio de Janiero, which is to host seven World Cup games, including the final on July 13. However, this protest is reported to have remained peaceful.

These are just the latest in a series of demonstrations against the World Cup, which began during last year's dress rehearsal for the event, the Confederations Cup, when on one night, an estimated one million people were out on the streets. The protesters said they were angered by the fact that the government is spending more than $11 billion (8.12 billion euros) on the tournament, funds they said would have been better spent on social services, such as education, health, housing and public transportation.

Rio airport strikes

The small demonstration in Sao Paulo wasn't the only thing concerning World Cup organizers on opening day.

Earlier it was announced that check-in staff, baggage handlers and janitors at Rio de Janeiro's Galeao International and Santos Dumont airports were set to walk off the job for 24 hours starting at midnight on Thursday. The trade union representing the workers said about 20 percent of ground crew was expected to take part in the strike.

Like most of the other recent strikes to hit Brazil in recent weeks, this work stoppage is also over wages.

The ground staff is demanding pay increases of up to 12 percent as well as bonuses for what's expected to be a heavier workload as hundreds of thousands of soccer fans flock to Brazil for the World Cup.

The union though, has agreed to respect a court ruling, which requires ground crew to maintain at least 70 percent service at the two airports.

pfd/rc (AFP. AP)