Battling supermodel Naomi Campbell was on Friday appointed ambassador for Rio de Janeiro - allegedly the world's most violent city.

According to an announcement on Rio's official website, Mayor Cesar Maia and Campbell enjoyed a cosy chat in the Palácio da Cidade during which the chuffed Streatham clotheshorse willing accepted the honour.

Maia explained that Campbell "has an image which is the face of Rio de Janeiro, and can represent the city abroad like no-one else". Campbell responded by confessing the city was one of the few in the world where she "felt at home".

Rio has recently suffered an upsurge in gang-related violence. On 14 January, 500 federal police were sent into the city to restore order following riots in December which left 19 people dead. During the violence, gang members assaulted police stations and torched buses. Eight of the victims were incinerated in a bus after rioters robbed the passengers and set fire to it.

Campbell, meanwhile, recently pleaded guilty (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/16/campbell_in_court/) to "reckless assault" on her former housekeeper Ana Scolavino, prompting a New York court to sentence her to "pay Scolavino's medical expenses of $363, do five days of community service, and attend an anger management class". ®

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