Madrid Protests Turn Violent

Protesters in Madrid clashed with police on Saturday for the third time in less than seven days outside the Parliament as demonstrations continue over a new round of austerity measures. The protests were peaceful Saturday until police began using batons to clear the area about midnight and some demonstrators threw rocks and bottles in response. The conservative Spanish government has proposed a draft budget for 2013 that would cut spending by €40 billion by freezing public-sector pay and slashing unemployment. Portugal has instituted similar cuts in exchange for a €78 billion bailout.