Rio 2016 committee confident despite police strike

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Rio Olympic organizers say they are confident preparations for the 2016 Games won't be affected by the police strike that is threatening to disrupt Carnival celebrations in the city.

Rio's Olympic committee said in a statement to The Associated Press on Friday that it remains "fully confident'' in the public security policies in place in the city.

The committee says the Olympics and the test events scheduled before the games will take place as usual.

Rio state officers went on strike late Thursday to demand a salary increase, prompting fears of an increase in violence.

The Olympic committee says a democratic state such as Brazil must allow workers to make demands, adding that "common sense'' and "dialogue'' should prevail.