Riot Police And Protesters Clash In Madrid

Police have fired rubber bullets at demonstrators in Madrid where a march of thousands took place in protest against new austerity measures.

Tens of thousands of public employees and trade union members have been marching in dozens of Spanish cities to protest the latest batch of austerity measures imposed by the government.

In Madrid, protesters gathered outside the People's Party offices of Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy before clashing with riot police who also used batons to disperse the crowds.

Amid fears of more violence, barricades have been put around Puerta del Sol, the city's main square, where the protest camp is set up.

Yesterday, the ruling conservative Popular Party used its majority in Parliament to push through the new round measures which include a rise in sales taxes and a wage cut for civil servants.                    Furious demonstrators punctured the tyres on police riot vans while civil servants blocked traffic in Madrid.

Many also carried Spanish flags bearing black bows for mourning and banners saying "No to the cuts" and "You have ruined us". A group of firefighters in the northern town of Ovieda stripped naked in front of the cameras in protest at the cuts they claim they have been forced to endure.

Yesterday, the Spanish government published details of the 100bn euro financial assistance agreement between Spain and the eurozone aimed at shoring up the country's struggling banks.

The banks' bailout was first announced in June, but it has failed to ease worries about Spain's public finances.