BRASIL: 3rd UPDATE: Army To Remain In Alemao Slum For 6 Months.

                                             LINK CHANGE/ LATIMES/  1 DEC/  3rd UPDATE:
     The government announced that its army troops will remain in Rio's worst slum Alemao for at least 6 months to keep order.

       It still claims its invasion of Rio's biggest slum complex Alemao was a success.

"We won," said Mario Sergio Duarte, head of Rio state's military police. "We brought freedom to the residents of Alemao."

     Police conceded that many of the 600 drug gang members believed to have been hiding in the Vila Cruzeiro and neighboring Alemao slums may have escaped into Rio's maze of storm sewers.
    The battle for Rio's slums began last Sunday after “retaliation” violence by gang members against a program to “pacify” 13 slums by rooting out them out and installing a special community police force.

      President Lula da Silva sent 800 army soldiers and 1,900 riot police to the violent 100,000 population Alemão shantytown,  called by some “the heart of evil,” to show the world that the government can secure Rio.

     The battle left 50 dead, including three police officers. Authorities made 123 arrests.  Large amounts of drugs and weapons were seized. Nearly 100 cars and buses were burned by gang members.

     “It is not humanly possible that 99 percent continue to suffer in the hands of criminals,” said da Silva. “Rio can be sure that the government will give all the help necessary.”