Spanish Congress Awaits Citizen Protests

Riot police have ringed the Spanish parliament in Madrid ahead of a planned mass protest against austerity tagged “Occupy Congress”.

Metal barriers have been placed around the building to block access from every possible direction, correspondents say.

Indignants, as the protesters are known, say they are protesting at the “kidnapping” of democracy.

Spain's new conservative government has been cutting pay and raising sales tax in an effort to reduce debt.

There is real concern in Europe that Spain may need an international bailout going beyond the 100bn euros (£80bn; $125bn) pledged by eurozone finance ministers in June to rescue its banks.

via BBC