Brazilians protest over councillor’s ‘assassination’

Thousands took to the streets of Brazil’s largest cities on Thursday to protest the execution-style murder of a popular Rio de Janeiro councilwoman.

Investigators, prosecutors and even drug gang leaders said the shooting of Marielle Franco, 38, a rising star in the Socialism and Liberty Party, seemed to be a political assassination.

Ms Franco, was an outspoken critic of police killings of poor residents.