Federal troops, police prepare Rio slum offensive
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Backed by armored personnel carriers and 800 army soldiers, police prepared a major offensive on Friday to occupy one of Rio de Janeiro's largest slums where heavily armed drug traffickers bunkered up after days of violence.
Thirty-five people have been killed since police first clashed earlier this week with suspected gang members who attacked police stations and burned nearly 100 cars and buses, and the planned advance could push the death toll higher. (Reuters)
