Brazil's Temer rejects UN criticism about repression in Brazil

BRASILIA - The Brazilian government rejected on Friday "in the strongest terms" a joint statement from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) criticizing repression in the country in recent days.

Brazil's Foreign Ministry blasted the statement, calling it "uninformed and biased."

"It is scary the lightness with which the UNHCR and the IACHR want to lead (people) to believe that Brazil does not have solid institutions, dedicated to the protection of human rights and cemented in the democratic rule of law," read its response.

On Friday, the two international bodies criticized excessive police force in the removal of drug users from the center of Sao Paulo and the repression of a union protest in Brasilia. They demanded that the Brazilian government seek dialogue and to protect people taking part in protests.

For Brasilia, this stance shows a lack of concern for the security of public officials and of protests subject to "systematic and deliberate" violence.

The government said that a violent protest on Wednesday saw the buildings of the ministries of culture, economy, planning and agriculture being attacked, with a number of fires being started, putting those inside in danger.

In response, President Michel Temer ordered army troops onto the streets to protect the ministries.

While the army and police fought back with tear gas and rubber bullets, live ammunition was also fired, with one street vendor in a critical condition after being shot in the face.