BRAZIL MILITARY'S HELP SOUGHT IN RIO DRUG WAR

At Least 10 Killed in Slum Violence

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Rio de Janeiro's state authorities appealed
Tuesday for the Brazilian government to deploy troops in a drug war in the
city's biggest slum that has claimed at least 10 lives and forced the
closure of many schools.

With police at every corner, Rio de Janeiro's hillside Rocinha slum had its
first night of calm since violence started Friday. But state governor
Rosinha Matheus said although the police had stemmed the conflict for now,
she wanted the military to safeguard Brazil's second-biggest city and
tourist mecca.

"(Combat of) drug trafficking is the obligation of the federal government.
I want their backing," she said.

More than 1,000 police stormed into two Rio shantytowns Monday, attempting
to halt the violent dispute among drug traffickers.

Automatic weapons fire crackled as police swept through the Rocinha favela,
or slum, and the nearby Vidigal slum -- both of which overlook the city's
wealthiest neighborhoods and trendy beaches.

The drug war violence has alarmed tourists and vacationers. The O Globo
newspaper said guests at the beachfront Intercontinental Hotel were shocked
to see red and blue tracer bullets streaking across the night sky.

The drug war broke out Friday when gang members from Vidigal attempted to
invade Rocinha to wrest control of the narcotics trade, mainly cocaine and
marijuana.

Shootouts between gangs and police have erupted since then and the violence
in the slums -- which straddle the main roads dividing the city's south and
west sides -- cut Rio in two.