Two Brazilian policemen arrested for mass killing
Two Brazilian policemen were arrested for suspected involvement in the worst massacre in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, according to local reports Sunday.

The reports quoted Alvaro Lins, Rio police chief, as saying Jose Augusto Moreira Felipe, 32, and Fabiano Goncalves Lopes, 30, were taken into custody Saturday afternoon at their home.

A 380-caliber pistol was also found, though authorities have not said if that weapon was used in the shootings.

Lins said the two policemen "look very much like the two drawings of the suspects that were made with help from eyewitnesses."

They were suspected of belonging to a death squad that carried out the slaughter to avenge the arrests of several members who were already on suspicion of previous murders.

On Thursday night, several masked gunmen opened fire apparently at random from two moving vehicles on passers-by in Baixada Fluminense, a Rio suburb.

A total of 30 people were killed, including three children aged from 7 to 13.

After the blood bath Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would spare no effort to bring those responsible to justice, and ordered Brazil's federal police to participate in the investigation.

The previous worst mass murder in Rio history happened in 1993,when a death squad formed by police officers massacred 21 people in the slum of Vigario Geral.

Death squads, often made up of off-duty or retired officers, were believed to be hired by local businessmen to kill undesirables.