Anti-Austerity Protests Turn Violent In Spain

A day of anti-austerity protests across Europe has ended in clashes between demonstrators and riot police in Madrid and Barcelona.

More than 140 people were arrested and dozens injured across the two cities, including two people who were said by police to be carrying material to make explosives.

After sporadic skirmishes through the day, the demonstrations continued into the night with fierce fighting breaking out at the tail end of rallies.

Police charged scores of protesters near the parliament building in Madrid after coming under a hail of broken bottles and stones.

Under attack near the capital's main railway station Atocha, police fired rubber bullets into the ground and air to disperse crowds. Rubbish bins were set alight and at least two shop windows were shattered.

At least one police vehicle was torched in Barcelona, and Spanish media showed images of a 13-year-old boy with his head bloodied from a beating by a riot police officer.

A protester throws a stone at police near the parliament building in Madrid

Protests also turned violent in Italy, where police used tear gas to disperse crowds.

In bailed-out Portugal, where the government intends to intensify austerity measures next year, the second general strike in eight months left commuters stranded as trains ground to a virtual halt and the Lisbon subway was shut down.

About 200 flights to and from Portugal were also cancelled, while hospitals provided only minimum services and rubbish bins were left uncollected.

Marches in 40 Portuguese cities were reportedly peaceful until nightfall when a small group of protesters threw rocks and bottles at police protecting the parliament building in Lisbon.

A police charge dispersed the protesters who fled the scene. At least five people were injured.

Airports across Europe - including Heathrow - were forced to cancel flights to and from striking nations.

Police clash with protesters in Malaga

In Spain, where one in four workers is unemployed, airlines including Iberia, Iberia Express, Air Nostrum, Vueling, Air Europa and easyJet cut more than 600 flights including some 250 international routes.

Hospitals fully staffed emergency and surgery rooms, but non-essential care was scaled back.

The country is teetering on the brink of calling for a European bailout, with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy trying to put off a rescue that could require even more EU-mandated budget cuts.

Economy Minister Luis de Guindos spoke of "a long crisis that has meant sacrifice and uncertainty," but added: "The government is convinced that the path we have taken is the only possible way out."

Union-led rallies were also called across France and in Poland, while high-speed Thalys rail services between Belgium and Germany were cancelled for the day.

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