Samba dancer Flavia Lopes (C), performs during the rehearsal of the Mocidade Independente Samba school at the Bangu neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro February 17, 2014. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Carnival got under way across Brazil on Friday interspersed with simmering antigovernment protests and alongside preparations in 12 cities for the upcoming soccer World Cup.
The festivities, which each year rouse millions to revel in nearly a week of parades and block parties, are the first since a series of mass demonstrations last June, when Brazilians took to the streets to decry rising prices, a sluggish economy, poor public services and corruption.
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