At least seven suspected drug traffickers and one policeman were dead following a gunbattle in a Rio de Janeiro slum a day before the annual Carnival festival. Police said the shootout in the Jacarezinho slum started Thursday afternoon while police were on patrol. The slum is located in northern Rio de Janeiro, far from the tourist areas and Carnival celebrations. But violence is a constant concern for Brazilian officials. Protecting visitors during Carnival is a top priority, especially as Rio de Janeiro prepares to host the 2014 football World Cup and the 2016 summer Olympics.