Riot police have ringed the Spanish parliament in Madrid ahead of a planned mass protest against austerity tagged “Occupy Congress”.Metal barriers have been placed around the building to block access from every possible direction, correspondents say.Indignants, as the protesters are known, say they are protesting at the “kidnapping” of democracy. Spain’s new conservative government has been cutting pay and raising sales tax in an effort to reduce debt.There is real concern in Europe that Spain may need an international bailout going beyond the 100bn euros (£80bn; $125bn) pledged by eurozone finance ministers in June to rescue its banks.‘Non-violent action’ Tuesday’s rally, due to begin at 17:30 (15:30 GMT), is expected to draw thousands of people, with buses reportedly laid on to ferry demonstrators into the capital from the provinces.One of the main protest groups, Coordinadora #25S, said the Indignants did not plan to storm parliament, only to march around it.“It will be a non-violent action,” she told AFP news agency, asking not to be identified.“We are not going to prevent members of parliament from entering.” Under Spanish law, people who lead demonstrations outside parliament that disrupt its business while it is in session may be jailed for up to one year, AFP notes.
