RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - The Brazilian police say gunmen have killed one of the financial directors of a newspaper known for its denunciations of corruption and organised crime groups.

Mr Jose Roberto Ornelas de Lemos of the Hora H newspaper was shot 44 times by four hooded gunmen at a bakery shop in the town of Nova Iguacu near Rio de Janeiro. The killing took place on Tuesday.

Mr Marco Aurelio of the Rio de Janeiro Journalists Union said on Thursday that the newspaper is known for its combative stance against corrupt politicians and policemen, "but I don't know if that is why they killed him".

Police inspector Marcos Henrique de Oliveira Alves told the Estado de S. Paulo newspaper that the police suspect Mr Lemos was killed because of the newspaper's work.