RIO DE JANEIRO - President Jacob Zuma was among 10 heads of states who attended last night's Fifa World Cup final between Argentina and Germany at the famous Estádio Maracanã.
The list also included President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
Sultry Colombian pop star Shakira headlined the lavish pre-match ceremony which also featured Mexican guitarist Carlos Santana and Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo.
Security was tight on the day, with police launching tear gas and stun grenades to disperse some 300 anti-World Cup protesters who tried to march towards the stadium shortly before the match.
The streets around the stadium were cordoned off. The demonstrators were protesting against police repression and the nation's lackluster health care when authorities intervened a day after 19 activists accused of vandalism were arrested (see Page 26).
Millions of people from neighbouring Buenos Aires city in Argentina headed to the Brandenburg Gate to watch the much-anticipated encounter.
In the host city Rio de Janeiro the party was in full swing earlier in the day, with soccer fans flocking to Copacabana Beach and flooding the city's bars and restaurants.
Although the host nation was not playing in the final, Brazil transformed the event into one massive carnival, with celebrations taking place across the entire nation, from the favelas to the Amazon. - Reuters and AFP
Presidents, pop stars join in soccer carnival
RIO DE JANEIRO - President Jacob Zuma was among 10 heads of states who attended last night's Fifa World Cup final between Argentina and Germany at the famous Estádio Maracanã.
The list also included President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
Sultry Colombian pop star Shakira headlined the lavish pre-match ceremony which also featured Mexican guitarist Carlos Santana and Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo.
Security was tight on the day, with police launching tear gas and stun grenades to disperse some 300 anti-World Cup protesters who tried to march towards the stadium shortly before the match.
The streets around the stadium were cordoned off. The demonstrators were protesting against police repression and the nation's lackluster health care when authorities intervened a day after 19 activists accused of vandalism were arrested (see Page 26).
Millions of people from neighbouring Buenos Aires city in Argentina headed to the Brandenburg Gate to watch the much-anticipated encounter.
In the host city Rio de Janeiro the party was in full swing earlier in the day, with soccer fans flocking to Copacabana Beach and flooding the city's bars and restaurants.
Although the host nation was not playing in the final, Brazil transformed the event into one massive carnival, with celebrations taking place across the entire nation, from the favelas to the Amazon. - Reuters and AFP
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