At least 14 killed during military, police operations in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro

At least 14 people have been killed during clashes between government troops, police officers and drug gangs in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro.

On Monday, Brazil’s military announced that eight people had died during widespread sweeping operations carried out in the city's favelas.

No further details were present on those who had died, or on the manner of their demise.

The military also announced that around 4,200 soldiers and 70 police officers, backed by armored vehicles and aircraft, engaged in the operations which took place in the Penha neighborhood and the Alemao and Mare favela complexes -- which are run by the drug trafficking gangs.

During the operations, the military removed road blocks erected by gang members and "troops distributed leaflets asking for cooperation from the population."

The military added that the operations brought "positive effects" to some 550,000 locals.

Human rights activists voiced their worries over the operation's death the overwhelming role of soldiers, as opposed to police.

"We think this is very serious. If there is confirmation that the dead were executed by officers of the armed forces, it would be a troubling change," said Silvia Ramos, from the Observatory of the Intervention, which monitors the security forces in Rio.

"The armed forces cannot enter this logic of useless confrontations and unacceptable killings that are the hallmark of the Rio police," he added.

PressTV-Brazil charges 11 people trying to set up Daesh cell

Brazil charges 11 people with trying to recruit fighters for the Takfiri terrorist group of Daesh and send them to Syria.

Elsewhere in the city, six armed gang members were killed during a police car chase in the suburb of Niteroi.

"Four died on the spot and two died in hospital, and three were taken prisoner," said a statement released by the police.

It added that four assault rifles, four pistols, four grenades and seven radios were also confiscated during the shootout.   

In April, a poll claimed that Nine out of 10 residents in Rio de Janeiro fear being caught in crossfire between police and criminals.

The poll said 92 percent are afraid of crossfire, of them or a relative being hit by a stray bullet, or of being injured or killed in an assault.

In May, Brazilian prosecutors announced charges against eleven people, who were accused of trying to establish a terror group inside the country and recruiting militants to send to Syria.

In February, Brazilian President Michel Temer ordered the military to take over security in Rio, citing the police force's inability to control the situation.

However, while Rio led the country in sheer numbers of murders, with 1,446 homicides in 2016, it is only 21 in the rankings when calculated on a per capita basis.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk