Brazilians took to the streets of Sao Paulo and Brasilia for rival demonstrations on Sunday for and against President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been widely criticized over his response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Hundreds of people banging drums and setting off flares marched through the capital to denounce the far-right president.

Demonstrators, many dressed in black and wearing face masks, held banners saying, "Everyone for democracy," "Against racism and fascism" and "Terrorism is the government's policy of extermination."

It was the first demonstration against Bolsonaro in Brasilia since the pandemic began. "Get back fascist, get back, popular power is in the streets," chanted protesters.

Bolsonaro has caused much controversy during his long political career after leaving the army and is seen by many as being racist, homophobic and sexist.

At the same time, a smaller protest took place in support of Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly tried to downplay the threat of the novel coronavirus.

His supporters regularly demonstrate on the weekend in the heart of Brasilia's government district, demanding an end to lockdown measures and railing against the Supreme Court and Congress.

Bolsonaro often attends the rallies. Police provided a cordon to keep the rival demonstrations apart.

Separate protests were also planned in Sao Paulo, including one by football supporters and social organizations to demand "democracy." 

Regional authorities have pleaded with organizers to keep the two apart to avoid clashes. Last weekend, Sao Paulo witnessed its first demonstration against the national government.

Supporters of two of the city's most prestigious football teams, Corinthians and Palmeiras, whose rivalry is one of the fiercest in world football, joined forces "against fascism."

They clashed with Bolsonaro supporters demanding an end to lockdown measures and had to be dispersed by police with tear gas and stun grenades.

The global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic climbed past 400,000 on Sunday, with fatalities accelerating in the epicenter of Latin America, even as Europe emerges from its virus lockdown with infections there increasingly under control.

However, fears of a second wave of the deadly disease have given way to grave worries over the economy, encouraging European countries to reopen borders and businesses and countries throughout Asia and Africa to slowly return to normal life.

Tensions are running high in Brazil, which has recorded more than 600,000 coronavirus cases and 35,000 deaths from COVID-19. But President Jair Bolsonaro has criticized stay-at-home measures imposed by local officials and has threatened to leave the World Health Organization.

The death toll has risen sharply in Mexico, Peru and Ecuador, while in Chile, the number of deaths has increased by more than 50 percent in the past week.

Bolsonaro has regularly attacked state authorities over regional lockdown measures. Over the weekend, he came under fire for ceasing to report Brazil's total number of cases and deaths and pushing back the daily report of the latest figures by five hours.

(With input from AFP)