Rio Carnival marches on

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Army tanks, 3,000 troops and 35,000 police officers patrolled Rio's streets Sunday for the start of the city's glittering Carnival parades.\nSecurity was tight after four people were killed and dozens of cars and buses torched last week in violence blamed on drug gangs.\nBut there have been few reports of violence involving the revelers themselves. One exception was an American tourist shot in the leg Sunday in a traffic dispute. He was not killed.\nBrazilians were making last touches on their sumptuous floats and sewing the last sequins onto skimpy bikinis as the first seven of 14 top samba "schools" prepared to parade down the famous Sambadrome stadium Sunday evening.\nThe schools are actually neighborhood groups, mainly from poor communities, that have spent the year preparing for their moment of glory. Each features 4,000 or more dancers, luxurious floats and 300-piece percussion sections.\nThis year's themes touch on some of the more serious issues in Brazilian society including social inequality and the environment, but the Carnival parades could not forget the success of a record fifth soccer World Cup won in 2002, and the Tradicao school will tell of Brazil's unequaled successes in that sport.\nThe parade continues Monday night with the last seven schools. They'll be judged on best music, costumes, originality, floats, percussion and enthusiasm and the winner earns bragging rights until next year.\nMany nations celebrate Carnival, especially in Latin America. But Rio's parades are the most famous. The city's tourism authorities expect 400,000 out-of-town visitors for this year's Carnival.