Thousands in Spain austerity demos

Thousands of demonstrators march through Madrid in protest against Spanish economic misery.

The event coincides with the anniversary of the first Indignados protest last May.

The turnout in Spain was by far the biggest in a day of similar protests around the globe.

Spain has seen unemployment soar to more than 24 per cent, its economy dip back into recession, and the nationalisation of one of its largest banks.

On top of that the government has passed a series of austerity measures that have hit once-sacred public health and education spending.

There were similar scenes on the streets of Barcelona.

SOUNDBITE: MARTA, PROTESTER, SAYING (Catalan/Spanish):

"We all have to be on the streets. We all have to keep on fighting because if this country overcomes the crisis it will be due to its people, not the politicians."

Saturday's protests were the first in a four-day series of demonstrations and other events seen as a test for a movement some analysts believe has lost its initial momentum.

Paul Chapman, Reuters