Supporters of Brazil's far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday invaded the country's Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court, in a grim echo of the U.S. Capitol invasion two years ago by fans of former President Donald Trump.

Security forces regain control of Congress in Brasilia after it is stormed by far-right protesters.

Police fired tear gas when demonstrators wrapped in the national flag surrounded the presidential palace.

Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated Bolsonaro in the most fraught election in a generation last year, announced a federal security intervention in Brasilia lasting until Jan. 31 after capital security forces initially were overwhelmed by the invaders.

In a press conference, he blamed Bolsonaro, and complained about a lack of security in the capital, saying authorities had allowed "fascists" and "fanatics" to wreak havoc.

"These vandals, who we could call fanatical Nazis, fanatical Stalinists ... fanatical fascists, did what has never been done in the history of this country," said Lula, who was on an official trip to Sao Paulo state. "All these people who did this will be found and they will be punished."

Biden blasts 'assault on democracy'

"I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil," he said in a tweet during his first visit as president to the US-Mexico border.

"Brazil’s democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined."

Biden added that he was looking forward "to continuing to work" with Lula.