BREAKING: Brazilian security forces retake govt buildings and arrest over 1,200 right wing rioters

Colombo (News 1st) - Brazilian security forces have arrested over 1,200 right-wing rioters, supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro who stormed govt buildings on Sunday including the congress, president's office, and supreme court.

Most were arrested at a camp of tents where they had camped out, just outside the army headquarters. Soldiers dismantled the tents and seized 40 buses that had been used to transport the rioters. Security forces have regained control of the government buildings.

Riot police fired tear gas to clear the rioters, many of whom were wearing national colours and waving Brazilian flags, and launched coordinated attacks in the capital Brasilia. Rioters were seen on live TV smashing windows and destroying property inside the buildings in scenes reminiscent of the attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington two years ago.

Former President Bolsonaro, living in self-imposed exile in the United States after losing last month's election, finally issued a late condemnation of the violent takeover, many hours after the violence began.

Left-wing socialist Lula Da Silva, who had earlier been president from 2003-11, won the election and returned to power after being imprisoned by Bolsonaro, whose alleged links to corrupt corporations resulted in a sharp drop in popularity during his presidency.

At least a dozen journalists were also attacked by the rioters and many had their cameras and other equipment smashed, Brazil's journalists' union reported.

World leaders condemned the assault on government buildings, including Pope Francis, U.S. President Joe Biden, India, China and a host of European and Latin American leaders.

Pope Francis said he was concerned over the weakening of democracy in South America noting "I am thinking of these last few hours in Brazil."

U.S. President Biden Tweeted: "I condemn this assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazil's democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "shocked by what I saw." The Russian government also condemned the riots. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: "The will of the Brazilian people and the democratic institutions must be respected!"

The European Union's top foreign affairs official, Josep Borrell, tweeted that he was "appalled by the acts of violence and illegal occupation of Brasilia's government quarter by violent extremists."

China and India also announced that they were supportive of President Lula De Silva, who also quickly received support from leaders across Latin America. Mexican President Andrés López tweeted: "Lula is not alone, he has the support of the progressive forces of his country, of Mexico, of the American continent and of the world." Chilean President Gabriel Boric condemned the violence as "a cowardly and vile attack on democracy". Argentine President Alberto Fernandez condemned what he called "a coup attempt".