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 November 29, 2010

Rio's drug war

A small war took place last week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between Brazilian forces and hundreds of drug traffickers holed up in the shantytown complex dubbed Complexo do Alemão. After recent efforts by officials to pacify Rio's drug and gang-related violence ahead of the upcoming the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics Games, drug gangs struck out last week - attacking police stations and staging mass robberies. After days of preparation, Brazilian security forces launched a raid in the Complexo do Alemão, where between 500 and 600 drug traffickers were holed up. At least 42 people were killed in the violence last week, with security forces taking control of many neighborhoods. A relatively low number of arrests were made, and authorities warn of further conflict as continue to flush out more suspects in Rio's maze of favelas. (40 photos total)

Alleged drug traffickers who did not want to identify themselves, pose for a photo as they stand on a street at a slum in western Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Nov. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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A general view of the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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A bus burns on Maria da Graca neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro November 26, 2010. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes) #

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Alleged drug dealers, one holding a weapon, ride a motorcycle through an intersection in the Morro de Alemão shantytown, on November 27, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A military policeman takes position during the raid in the Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (JEFFERSON BERNARDES/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Police move to positions during an operation against alleged drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. Rio police backed by helicopters and armored vehicles started invading a shantytown complex long held by traffickers on Sunday, slowly moving their way through small alleys amid heavy gunfire. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) #

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People react after shooting set a house on fire during a conjoined operation at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010. Soldiers and police crouching behind armored vehicles trained their rifles on dozens of entrances to a sprawling slum Saturday, preparing to invade and try to push drug gangs out an area long considered the most dangerous in Rio de Janeiro. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) #

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Army soldiers, police and journalists take positions during an operation by the authorities at Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro November 27, 2010. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes) #

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An armed suspected armed drug gang member takes position behind a resident during an operation at Grota slum in Rio de Janeiro November 26, 2010. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes) #

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A policeman looks through his binoculars during an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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An armored vehicle of the Brazilian Army rolls over a blockade during an operation at Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro November 28, 2010. Police positioned armored vehicles on the edge of a Rio de Janeiro slum at dusk on Saturday in preparation for a possible offensive to root out drug traffickers. (REUTERS/Bruno Domingos) #

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A child reacts during a shooting as a result of a police operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/ Silvia Izquierdo) #

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A photographer takes a position behind an empty water tank during an operation at Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on November 27, 2010. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes MEDIA) #

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Drug dealers point guns at the police at Grato shantytown in Alemão slum on November 26, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (THIAGO CARDOSO/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A policeman is seen during a shootout with traffickers during an operation at Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro November 25, 2010. (REUTERS/Bruno Domingos) #

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A policemen walks past a wall with a painting of the Brazilian flag marked with bullet holes during an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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A resident (bottom center) who was shot lies on the ground as others help him during a police operation at the Grota slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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A solider looks on as he sits in an armored vehicle during an operation against alleged drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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Coordination of Special Resources (CORE) policemen escort arrested alleged drug dealers and carry a marijuana plant seized during the raid in the Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (JEFFERSON BERNARDES/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Residents flee the conflict area during the raid in the Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (JEFFERSON BERNARDES/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A photojournalist takes photos of drugs, weapons and bullets seized during an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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A handcuffed suspect waits inside a police bus during an operation against alleged drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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Policemen carry an injured suspected drug trafficker after a shootout on November 23, 2010, as they conducted a raid on drug gangs at the Mandela 2 slum in Rio de Janeiro. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes) TEMPLATE OUT #

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Policemen search a cocaine refining laboratory during the raid in the Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (JEFFERSON BERNARDES/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A police officer hands packages of marijuana seized during an operation against drug traffickers to a fellow officer at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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A boy with the word "Peace" written in his forehead looks on during a protest at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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A military helicopter overflies the Morro do Alemão shantytown during a raid on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Children play in a pool at the house of an absent alleged drug trafficker at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) #

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Riot Special Forces policemen load a helicopter with six tons of marijuana found in a bunker during a raid in the Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A boy stands outside his house as motorcycles burn at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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A resident holding a baby hides behind a door as an armored police vehicle patrols during an operation at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) #

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Military policemen take places during a raid in Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Soldiers aim their weapons during an operation against drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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A soldier closes the door of an armored vehicle before an operation against drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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An alleged drug trafficker known as Zeu (center) is arrested during a police operation at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) #

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A body lies next to an escape route used by traffickers after an operation against drug traffickers at the Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) #

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A military policeman looks over the rooftops during a raid in Morro do Alemão shantytown on November 28, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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The bullet-hit window of a taxi, as Reuters' photographer Paulo Whitaker was injured during an operation at Vila Cruzeiro slum in Rio de Janeiro November 26, 2010. Whitaker was shot in the shoulder during the coverage but he is recovering quickly as his injury is not life-threatening, doctors said. (REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker) #

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A police officer aims his weapon during an operation against alleged drug traffickers at the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/ Silvia Izquierdo) #

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Police arrest a suspect in the Complexo do Alemão slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday Nov. 29, 2010. Authorities seized control of what was long the most dangerous slum in the city as operations continued Monday to locate drug gang members. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) #
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