The Brazilian police fired tear gas at about 500 natives - Indians who threw arrows at them, and about 500 more representatives of various social groups who yesterday protested against the holding of the World Cup in Brazil, condemning the excessive spending of money.
Indians from the Amazon basin wore traditional costumes and some shot arrows at the police. One police officer was shot in the leg by an arrow and underwent surgery to remove it.
Globo TV broadcast footage of a police motorcycle riddled with arrows.
Some members of indigenous tribes were seen throwing stones at around 700 policemen who were guarding the football stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
"Who is the World Cup for? Not us," chanted the protesters. "I don't want the Cup, I want money for health and education," they said.
In addition, Indians are protesting the encroachment of their rights on their ancestral lands in favor of white landowners.
The natives represent 0,3 percent of Brazil's approximately 200 million inhabitants and live on approximately 12 percent of the territory, mostly around the Amazon River.
They often clash with wealthy landowners who control 46 percent of the cultivated land. They say they plan to hold protests in many Brazilian cities and even abroad.
Brazil faced a series of protests against the hosting of the World Cup and the $11 billion budget that went into it, arguing that the money should have gone to programs to help the poor.
The World Championship will be held in 12 Brazilian cities in the period from June 12 to July 13.
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