In pictures: Brazil squatters leave camp

1 of 5 Thousands of squatters who had camped on a patch of ground near Sao Paulo have evacuated, burning their makeshift huts as they left.

2 of 5 Hundreds of police surrounded the camp, prepared to force the families out. But the squatters left peacefully and police destroyed the remaining tents.

3 of 5 The squatters had spent the last few weeks on a patch of land owned by German car company Volkswagen, in the industrial suburb of San Bernando do Campo.

4 of 5 They were protesting to highlight the lack of low-cost housing now aggravated by rising unemployment.

5 of 5 Unemployment in Sao Paulo is now about 20% and correspondents says people are forced to become squatters because they can no longer afford to pay rent.