IT started as a group of activists taking a stance against a rise in transport prices, but quickly grew into violent demonstrations which saw hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets nationwide.

After more than a week of protests, which have not been targeted at any specific leader of political party, Brazil is braced for further chaos with social media and mass emails buzzing with calls for a general strike this week.

Demonstrators have denounced everything from poor public services to the billions being spent preparing for next year's football World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

Even Brazil's sports heroes have come under attack. Football legend Pele came under fire after calling on Brazilians to "forget the protests", while a film has been circulating on social media showing Ronaldo saying World Cups are accomplished "with stadiums, not hospitals".

Some protests have targeted the Confederation Cup, the eight-team tournament currently taking place in the country and considered to be a dry run for next year's World Cup.

President Dilma Rousseff stayed silent on the protests until Friday evening, when she announced a series of reforms in a pre-recorded TV address. She pledged to improve public transport, use oil royalties for education and draft in thousands of doctors from overseas to improve the health service.

She also defended hosting the World Cup, saying it was being financed by private companies.

"I would never allow this money to come out of the taxpayers' money, harming essential areas such as health and education," she added.

The demonstrations have been mostly peaceful, but as more than a million Brazilians took to the streets on Thursday night, looting and vandalism cast a pall over some protests. Police and security forces responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray.

At least one person was killed in Sao Paulo state on Thursday when a driver apparently drove his car at protesters, while a 54-year-old woman was reported to have died on Friday after inhaling tear gas.

The Free Fare movement of 40 activists who initially marched for – and got – lower transport rates, have suspended marches for now.

Social media has enabled the mass demonstrations, said San Paulo protester Victor Damaso, 22. "Our ideas, our demands are discussed on Facebook. There are no meetings, no rules."

■brazil