Brazil protesters disappointed with low turnout at Independence Day rallies

Demonstrators in Brazil tried to regain the energy of June’s massive street protests with rallies marking independence day on Saturday, but efforts fizzled with low turnout.

A few thousand protesters marched in the capital, Brasilia, a few hundred in Rio de Janeiro and rallies were held in several other cities.

Turnout was a tiny fraction of what was seen several months ago, when more than a million people took to the streets as the country hosted the football Confederations Cup.

“We want better education, political reforms and media democratization. The June protests served to push Congress to approve measures -- we have to keep them alive,” student Philip Leite told AFP.

Brazil remains in the international spotlight as it prepares to host the World Cup next year and the Summer Olympics in 2016.

Protesters are angry at the millions being spent on the sporting events, funds they argue would be better used to improve transportation, education and health services for poor Brazilians.