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.