Problem:Embed C code in GAS language file

I saw Gnu C code embedded in gnu assembly file. I've a simple code like below:

.section .data
int i = 1;

.section .text
.globl main
main:
   nop
   movl $2, i
   movl $1, %eax
   movl $0, %ebx
   int  $0x80


But when i try to compile with gcc -c i get the message:

test1.s: Assembler messages:
test1.s:2: Error: invalid character '=' in operand 1

Am i missing something obvious? Thanks.
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