Anti-austerity protests held in Europe

Anti-austerity protesters took to the streets of European cities including Madrid and Lisbon to express their anger at government cuts they say are making the financial crisis worse by stifling growth and increasing unemployment.

Thousands marched towards Madrid’s central Neptuno fountain, near parliament, chanting “Government, resign”, while around 15,000 gathered outside the International Monetary Fund’s headquarters in Lisbon shouting “IMF, out of here”.