BBC: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has cancelled a planned trip to Japan over continuing mass anti-government protests across her country. The move is an indication of the seriousness of the situation confronting her, correspondents say.

In the north-eastern city of Salvador, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters ahead of an international football match there. Big rallies are being staged in Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and other cities.

Demonstrators in Sao Paulo earlier said they would take to the streets "to celebrate" the reversal of a public-transport fare increase announced on Wednesday.