Protesters, police clash at pro-Rousseff protest

Around 100,000 demonstrators participated in a rally in Sao Paulo's Paulista Avenue, organizers said on Sunday. Many held banners saying "Out with Temer" and "Direct Elections now."

Police used stun grenades, tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters, who became violent at a subway station, destroying turnstiles and throwing rocks at police officers, the public safety department said in a statement. The rallies were held in the late afternoon to avoid interference with the passing of the torch for the Paralympic Games, due to start in three days.

Demonstrators also gathered at Brazil's Copacabana promenade in Rio de Janeiro to demand Temer's removal from the president's post, calling his ascendancy a "coup."

Temer's response

Speaking from China on the sidelines of the G20 summit, Temer said, "These are small groups... I don't have it numerically, but they are 40, 50, 100 people. It's nothing more than that. Out of 204 million Brazilians, I don't think it means much," media quoted the president as saying.

Brazil's former President Dilma Rousseff was voted out by the Senate on Wednesday after being charged with illegally manipulating government accounts in connection with the country's energy giant, Petrobras. She was replaced by Michel Temer, former vice president, and reportedly Rousseff's arch enemy.

Rousseff - Brazil's first woman president - is likely to appeal her impeachment, but is unlikely to succeed because several of her former appeals have been rejected. She also told foreign media on Friday that she would raise her voice if Temer suppressed protests.

mg/jil (AFP, AP)