17 Jul 2012

Protest in Madrid against austerity measures

5:49 am on 17 July 2012

Police, fire officers and other public sector workers took to the streets of Madrid on Monday to protest against the government's latest austerity measures.

These include the scrapping of Christmas bonuses for all civil servants.

Thousands of protestors assembled on Sunday and more hit the streets again on Monday.

Hands up, it's a hold-up, is the slogan being used in the protests.

Discontent has grown since a new 65 billion euro austerity package was announced by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy last week, after the European Union ordered new cuts and tax increases. The government approved the measures on Friday.

Spain will receive the first tranche of a 100 billion euro for its banking sector later this month.