Rage in Spain : Thousands gather in Madrid to protest new austerity measures.

[Sun Wukong]

A protester gestures in front of policemen while attending a demonstration close to Spain's Parliament in Madrid, September 25, 2012.
REUTERS/Andrea Comas

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[Sun Wukong]

Riot police stand guard with police dogs as demonstrators protest outside the Spanish parliament in Madrid, September 25, 2012.
REUTERS/Susana Vera

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[Sun Wukong]

A protester cries out as she is dragged away by riot police outside Spain's parliament in Madrid, September 25, 2012.
REUTERS/Susana Vera

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[Sun Wukong]

A demonstrator struggles with Spanish National Police riot officers outside the the Spanish parliament in Madrid September 25, 2012.
REUTERS/Sergio Perez

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[Cesc Fabregas]

Spanish riot police push demonstrators onto the floor outside parliament in Madrid, September 25, 2012.
REUTERS/Susana Vera

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[Sun Wukong]

Protesters gather in front of policemen as they attend a demonstration close to Spain's Parliament in Madrid, September 25, 2012.
REUTERS/Andrea Comas

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[Cesc Fabregas]

Riot police hold up a demonstrator who was hit on the head outside the Spanish parliament in Madrid, September 25, 2012.
REUTERS/Susana Vera

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[Sun Wukong]

A protester holds a poster during a demonstration outside the Spanish parliament in Madrid, September 25, 2012.
The poster reads "This certainly is Madrid without hope". REUTERS/Sergio Perez

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[Cesc Fabregas]

Protesters demonstrate outside the Spanish parliament in Madrid, September 25, 2012.
REUTERS/Susana Vera

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[Sun Wukong]

Anti-austerity demonstrators gesture over a barrier at police outside the the Spanish parliament in Madrid, September 25, 2012.
REUTERS/Paul Hanna

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[AntiPAPunk]

Spain: rubber bullets fired at violent anti-austerity protest

Police fire rubber bullets and beat protesters with truncheons at an anti-austerity demonstration near Spain's parliament in Madrid.

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8:18AM BST 26 Sep 2012

Protesters clashed with police in Spain's capital on Tuesday as the government prepares a new round of unpopular austerity measures for the 2013 budget that will be announced on Thursday.

At least 22 demonstrators were detained and 28 injured, as clashes continued late into the evening near the Spanish parliament, Spanish broadcaster TVE reported.

More than 1,500 police in riot gear had been deployed throughout the day in preparation for the demonstration, with barricades being set up.

Police fired rubber bullets and beat protesters with truncheons, first as several protesters were trying to tear down barriers and later to clear the square.

The peaceful protest turned violent after a series of clashes began at 7pm local time.

The protest, promoted over the Internet by different activist groups, was younger and more rowdy than recent marches called by labour unions. Protesters said they were fed up with cuts to public salaries and health and education.

The 2013 budget is the second one conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has had to pass since he took office in December. Spain must persuade its European partners that it can cut the budget shortfall by more than 60 billion euros by 2014.

Also on Tuesday, the treasury ministry said the central government deficit to the end of August had reached 4.77 per cent of GDP, already above its year-end target of 4.5 per cent of GDP.