Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has met with military commanders to discuss a request made by the governor of Rio de Janeiro for a military presence on the city's streets, as a means of supplementing police patrols. Drug-fueled crime has long ravaged Rio's slums, but now violence is spreading. No decision has been reached, but the president will meet with commanders again next week, who have agreed to lend assistance "within the constitutional parameters." [AlJazeera, April 12]

From Madrid11.net Security Briefs, April 13

See our last post on Brazil.