Violent protests have broken out in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro following the death of a young man allegedly beaten by police.

Main streets through the tourist area of Copacabana were closed as angry demonstrators from a nearby favela set barricades of tyres alight.

The unrest started after a dancer was killed by police who reportedly mistook him for a drug trafficker.

It comes less than two months before Brazil hosts the football World Cup.

One man was shot dead during the violence on Tuesday, local media quoted officials as saying.

(BBC)