Lula da Silva: Brazil's president condemns supporters of Jair Bolsonaro for storming Parliament and Supreme Court




Thousands of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro protested in front of the parliament and Supreme Court and surrounded the presidential palace.



But after hours of clashes, police regained control of government buildings in the capital Brasilia on Sunday night.



The new president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has promised to find and punish the perpetrators.



Justice Minister Flavio Odino told local media that around 200 people had been arrested.



The drama -- thousands of protesters wearing soccer jerseys and waving Brazilian flags surrounded police and stormed into the heart of the country -- came a week after Lula took office.




Emergency powers were in place until the National Guard was dispatched to restore order in the capital.



The president also ordered the closure of the center of the capital - including the main thoroughfare where the government buildings are located - for 24 hours.



Authorities confiscated about 40 buses used to transport protesters to the capital, Dino said, calling the storm a "ridiculous attempt to impose (the protesters') will by force."



Bolsonaro repeatedly refused to concede defeat in October's election and left the country last week instead of attending the swearing-in ceremony where he was supposed to hand over the presidential belt.



Bolsonaro, 67, who lives in Florida, condemned the attack on Twitter about six hours after the violence erupted and denied responsibility for instigators of the riots.



Da Silva - known as Lula - said the scenes that erupted in Brasilia on Sunday were "without precedent in the history of our country", calling the violence "the work of vandals and fascists". "Say.







Lula vows to hold accountable those responsible for rift



He also criticized security forces for failing to prevent protesters from entering the parliament building, accusing them of being "incompetent, dishonest or malicious".



"You will see in the photos that they (police) are leading people to Praca dos Tres Powers. We will find out who is the funder of these vandals going to Brasilia and they will all pay (price). Force law," He said.



A video clip posted by the "O Globo" news platform showed multiple officers laughing together for a photo with protesters occupying Parliament Square in the background.



Windows were banging on the benches as others arrived in the Senate chamber.



Video on social media showed protesters pulling a police officer from his horse and attacking him outside the parliament building.



Video released by state media showed police arresting dozens of yellow-clad protesters outside the presidential palace.



The other suspects - whose hands were tied behind their backs - were seen being led out of the building.



Demonstrators have been gathering since early morning in front of Parliament, a kilometer from Esplanade Street, which is lined with ministry headquarters and the National Monument.



Security appears to be tight, with roads around the parliament grounds closed and armed police stationed at all entrances to the grounds.



Many have compared it to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro.



Supporters of Bolsonaro have called for the military to intervene and for the resignation of Lula, who defeated his far-right opponent in the election.



Many have set up camps in Brazilian cities, some outside military camps. That's because many of his staunch supporters want the military to intervene and call new elections, saying it was stolen from them.



Lula's ascension to the throne appeared to limit their movement, as camps in Brasília were dismantled and there was no rioting on the day of the inauguration.



But Sunday's scene suggested those predictions were premature.



The attack on parliament was condemned around the world.



US President Joe Biden has criticized Brazil's democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.



In a tweet on Twitter, Biden pledged Washington's full support for Brazil's democracy.



Lula also has support from Latin America, including Argentina, Mexico and Chile.



The European Union and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for the Brazilian president