(Breitbart) — President Barack Obama has cancelled a public speech he was scheduled to deliver Sunday in a Rio square during his upcoming visit to Brazil, the US embassy in Brasilia said. The speech in the historic plaza known as Cinelandia, in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, “is cancelled,” an embassy spokeswoman told AFP. Obama instead will deliver remarks at Rio’s Municipal Theatre, the official said, without specifying whether it would be open to the public or exclusively for invited guests.

No explanation for the change of venue was given by the embassy. Brazilian authorities have laid out a heavy security presence for Obama’s two-day visit to South America’s

largest nation, and police in Rio had closed numerous streets from midnight Thursday in preparation.   On Thursday, members of an advance US security team were seen inspecting the surroundings of Cinelandia, where anti-US banners could be seen hanging from a road-side fence.

Some social and union groups have declared Obama a “persona non grata” and called for a protest, accusing him of a “bellicose policy of occupation” in foreign countries, and of attacking people “in the name of the war on terror.”  (more)

Also…. (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama condemned on Friday a shooting attack in Yemen that killed dozens of protesters, urged authorities there to protect peaceful demonstrators and said those responsible must be held accountable.  “It is more important than ever for all sides to participate in an open and transparent process that addresses the legitimate concerns of the Yemeni people, and provides a peaceful, orderly and democratic path to a stronger and more prosperous nation,” he said in a written statement. (more)

Meanwhile, Yemen declares a state of emergency after government forces kill at least 41 protesters in a crackdown on massacre of the opposition………..

Obama pauses to express his *ahem* “deep concern”, then runs off to pack for Rio……Pantsuits can handle it…..  right?…… /SD