Anti-austerity protests erupt throughout Spain

Riot police fired rubber bullets against demonstrators in Barcelona in Spain, after clashes broke out towards the end of a huge anti-austerity rally on Wednesday.              

Thousands of people have been on the strike throughout the recession-hit country, protesting against severe austerity measures designed to avoid the need for a full-blown international bailout.        

To combat a three-year financial crisis over too much sovereign debt, governments across Europe have had to raise taxes and cut spending, pensions and benefits.             

In Spain, the unemployment rate is now above 25 percent and at 50 percent for the under-25s.           

Demonstrations have taken place throughout Europe, with the largest occurring in financially suffering areas of Southern Europe such as Italy and Portugal.                 

Spain's General

Workers' Union said the nationwide strike - the second this year - was being observed by nearly all workers in the automobile, energy, shipbuilding and construction industries.              

Most schools were shut down, and hospitals operated with skeleton staff.            

Frustration spilled into violence when riot police clashed with demonstrators in Barcelona and other Spanish cities.                    

In the late afternoon, tens of thousands filled the downtown streets of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and other cities, though officials and organizers gave differing turnout figures.


AP