Tens of thousands protest across Brazil against planned reforms to the pension system

   Tens of thousands of people have taken part in protests across Brazil against planned reforms to the pension system.

  According to reports, in the capital Brasilia, hundreds occupied the finance ministry, while in Sao Paulo, demonstrators brought traffic to a standstill.
   President Michel Temer says capping pension benefits and raising retirement age is needed to fix the country's finances.
   Brazil is going through its worst recession in more than a century.
The government plans to set the minimum age of retirement at 65yrs, a  decision that  has provoked much anger, as many people are able to draw their pension at 54yrs.
   But President Temer said the reform was needed to prevent a collapse of the pension system.
   He  said the austerity measures were needed now, in order to prevent a future crisis .