Spain anti-austerity marches attract thousands

(AP) Thousands of people are marching on Spain's parliament to protest austerity measures imposed by the government.

Saturday's protest comes on the 32nd anniversary of a failed attempt by the armed forces to overthrow the government. Several protest groups joined forces under a single slogan called Citizens' Tide, 23F, referring to the Feb. 23, 1981 attack by armed forces on Spain's parliament.

Organizers say that Spain today is under a financial coup and have called on people to march to parliament to protest austerity measures and what they say is government favoritism toward financial institutions at the expense of ordinary citizens.

Marchers decried the pressure of financial markets and corruption in government and the country's banking system, and called on lawmakers to find alternatives that won't give away the welfare state.