Protesters tear-gassed after blocking Olympic torch relay

Police fired tear gas and stun grenades on protesters blocking the Olympic torch relay route in Rio last night.

Olympic representatives said the torch pageant was delayed after anti-government demonstrators threw rocks and blocked the road.

A ten-year-old girl was among three people injured in clashes with riot police, local media reported.

Video from the protest shows people screaming and falling back as pepper spray is fired on them.

The fracas will add to tension as Rio prepares for the opening ceremony tomorrow.

Many have claimed that the costly event ignores the poor and fails to benefit local people - and there are also suggestions that the torch relay deliberately dodged poorer areas.

"The Olympics is a waste of time. The Games did not bring any benefits to Rio de Janeiro," said waiter Adriano Souza, 25, lamenting the lack of public transportation to get around the sprawling, mountainous city.

The latest clash follows after anti-torch protests in nearby towns yesterday.

Recent days have also seen high levels of gang violence in northern Brazil, underscoring social tension in the massive country.