Brazil's police unrest spread to Rio Friday, where hundreds of police and firefighters kicked off a strike for better pay, raising fears of disruption of the upcoming Carnival.

The strike got under way after union leaders overnight rejected a deal approved by Rio's state legislature offering a 39 percent increase in pay for civilian and military police, firefighters and prison guards.

It also came only hours after more than 200 military police on Thursday ended a nine-day occupation of the Bahia legislature in Salvador, the state capital, launched to dramatize their demand for better pay.

But strikers within the Bahia military police said their movement was continuing, despite a massive crime wave in which more than 120 people have been murdered in and around Salvador, Brazil's third largest city, more than twice the usual homicide rate.

In Rio, calm prevailed in the streets and the military police command said that "all its units are fully operational, with the support of police from the (crack) special operations and shock battalions in patrols."

"There is no paralysis of any type of service for the citizen. The military police reiterates its commitment to the security of the people of Rio de Janeiro," it added in a statement.

Military police colonel Federico Caldas told CBN radio 11 arrest warrants were issued for the main leaders of the Rio protest and that 14 police officers were arrested for refusing to work.

"There will be a tough response for those police officers who (do not work). To break the oath we took to protect society is unacceptable," he added.

In an isolated incident, assailants on motorcycles opened fire on a police car in Rio's northern zone, but no one was injured, military police colonel Federico Caldas told CBN radio.

The Rio police and firefighter strikers held a press conference Friday to enlist public support for their demand for decent pay.

"They can arrest us but we implore the population to help us obtain decent salaries," military police corporal Joao Carlos Gurgel, a spokesman for the strikers, said. "Don't believe what they (authorities) are saying. We are not vandals."

Police salaries in Rio are among the lowest in the country. The starting salary is around 700 dollars a month.

The Rio strikers, who are demanding 2,040 dollars a month plus an extra allowance of 400 dollars for food and transport, want direct talks with Rio state governor Sergio Cabral over the issue.

"In Rio today, 400 police officers are on wheelchairs after being shot and the state does not respect them," said retired military police officer Helio Oliveira. "The public must understand that we are discouraged and tired because we have to moonlight to make ends meet. It's bad for the police officer and for society."

Francisco Chao, head of the civilian police union, said Rio state authorities made some concessions but added: "Unfortunately, this is not enough."

He noted that it was too early to know what percentage of the city's 70,000 (military and civilian) police and firefighters were on strike.

Strikes by police and firefighters are illegal in Brazil, but strikers have generally received amnesties except when they engaged in criminal acts.

Officials said Thursday that 14,000 army troops stood ready to assume security responsibilities in Rio, along with 300 national guard firefighters.

Speaking after the strike was decided, striking firefighter Reginaldo Adin told AFP: "This year, for the first time in Brazilian history, we may be deprived of Carnival, here in our city. The Carnival is known throughout the world, and is a trademark of our city."

A spokeswoman for the Rio military police countered: "Carnival will take place normally and for now there is no need for reinforcements from the military."

The turmoil has also raised concerns about Brazil's hosting of the 2014 World Cup, the world's premiere sporting tournament, when millions of visitors are expected to descend on South America's largest country.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has criticized the strikes and said there will be no amnesty for those who act against "the people and the public order."

The poorly paid military police -- a state force distinct from the federal police and not affiliated with the armed forces -- is responsible for maintaining law and order.

They are called "military" because of their organizational structure.