Yesterday the northside of Rio proper was pretty much one large transit mess. Not due to the Centro reconstructions, but to a new initiative to combat the drug trafficers in a favela already supposedly "pacificed" by the UPP. This time it was Manguinhos, not far from the Galeao International Airport.

First link are to photos from the initial occupation in 2012 and the second are from yesterday.

http://www.demotix.com/photo/1522621/police-occupy-one-most-dangerous-slums-r-o-de-janeiro

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/manguinhos-tem-noite-de-tiros-ataque-upp-11940193

Except for the language in the graffiti on the sides of the destroyed buildings, not much different from photos from the Middle East.

Located southwest of the airport. Manguinhos is a lower-class neighborhood as well as unplanned favela. Many might have noticed the old headquarters building of the Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, principal research hospital for Brasil, while going to the airport. Quite ornate. By the by, I used to date the assistant director of the place a few years back. Very pleasant grounds. Fountains, Food service. Nice place to visit. The surroundings, (insert gallows humor chuckle) not so much.

Gov. Cabral, along with his vice and Beltrame, the state head of security, went to Brasilia yesterday to plead with Dilma for the assistance of the Federal Forces to help with security in already "pacified" favelas/comunidade is now the politically correct term. Dilma agreed to supply them and they have anounced they are to reoccupy the Complexos de Mare and Manguinhos. When going to the airport, on your left as you make the sharp right turn towards Ilha Fundao where the UFRJ is located then the Airport, that large concentration is the Mare favela. Fun times in the run-up for the next 3 months.