Anti-austerity protests in Spain, Portugal draw tens of thousands (PHOTOS)

Anti-austerity protests in Spain and Portugal drew tens of thousands of protesters into the streets.

Economics

Children wave flags through smoke thrown by firemen and policemen during a demonstration of public service workers against government’s spending cuts in Sevilla on September 29, 2012. Spain’s government said it would freeze public sector pay, which has not risen since it was cut by five percent in 2010 and which suffered an effective seven-percent fall this year with the cutting of the end-of-year bonus.

CRISTINA QUICLER

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in the capitals of Spain and Portugal to protest against the austerity cuts during tough economic times.

The Associated Press said demonstrators in Madrid approached parliament to voice their anger over tax hikes, government spending cuts and the high unemployment rate in Spain.