Spaniards defy ban to demonstrate in Madrid

Source: Associated Press

MADRID -- Hundreds of Spaniards huddled in a makeshift protest camp in the heart of Madrid for a fourth straight day Thursday, denouncing the country's two main political parties as selfish and useless in dealing with the country's economic crisis.

The demonstrations in the capital and other Spanish cities are adding anger to what has been a humdrum campaign for local and municipal elections this weekend.

Hundreds of protesters who spent the night at the camp in Madrid's Puerta del Sol plaza shook rain water from plastic sheeting that served as a roof, held small assemblies with bullhorns, handed out donated, free food such as fruit and sweet rolls, and prepared for another rally in the evening. Some dozed on grungy couches and chairs, or in small camping tents.

Spain is only now recovering, albeit very slowly, from nearly two years of recession, and its jobless rate has soared to a euro zone high of 21.3 percent. Prospects for significant economic growth soon are slim.


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