Blood flows down the face of an injured protester who was injured during clashes between supporters of Spanish coal miners and riot police as they ended a "Marcha Negra" (Black March) near the Industry Ministry in Madrid July 11, 2012 (Reuters/Paul Hanna)
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TRENDS:Eurozone crisis
Spanish police have fired rubber bullets at protesters in central Madrid as thousands rose up against new cuts introduced by the government. At least 21 people have been injured, including one journalist and one policeman.
Only minor arrests have been made so far, with five people being detained. Three of those arrested reportedly threw bricks at police, local El Pais newspaper reported.
About 200 people remain surrounded by dozens of police in front of parliament, Twitter user Danips posted on his microblog.
Protesters disagree with a 63 per cent cut in subsidies to coal mining companies, major contributors to the Spanish energy market. Unions say the plan threatens 30,000 jobs and could destroy their livelihoods.
Miners, who were hiking from the north of the country for the past two weeks, have been joined by tens of thousands of Spaniards also protesting against Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s tax hike.
The prime minister announced his decision to raise VAT by 3 per cent as part of the plan to trim the public budget by 65 billion euro over the next two-and-a-half years. Rajoy also declared a 3.5-billion-euro cut to local government spending.
Many protesters marched more than 400 kilometers (250 miles) from mines in northern Spain.
RT photo
RT photo
Photo from Twitter user @BertaLC
A demonstrator raises his fist in front of riot policemen during a demonstration by Spanish coal miners in Madrid, on July 11, 2012 (AFP Photo/Dominique Faget)
Riot policemen fire tear gas in Madrid, on July 11, 2012 (AFP Photo/Dominique Faget)
Spanish coal miners demonstrate on July 11, 2012 in Madrid (AFP Photo/Dani Pozo)
Spanish coal miners demonstrate on July 11, 2012 in Madrid (AFP Photo/Cesar Manso)
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