Tens of thousands of people marched through Rome in a "No Monti Day" yesterday/ on Saturday to protest against austerity measures introduced by Prime Minister Mario Monti's government. Appointed in November when Italy risked being sucked into the euro zone debt crisis, Monti has pushed through painful austerity measures to cut the country's massive debt, including tax hikes, spending cuts and a pension overhaul.

A range of protesters from communists to academics mount a 'No Monti Day' demonstration against government austerity policies in downtown Rome October 27, 2012. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

In another demonstration in northern Italy, a small group of protesters scuffled with police near where Monti was addressing a rally on the theme of family values.  On the same day, about 3000 off-duty Spanish police officers have demonstrated in Madrid to protest the government's austerity measures, including the cancellation of their Christmas bonuses. The protest blocked one of the capital's central boulevards opposite the Interior Ministry on Saturday. The "Surround parliament" protest group called on people to gather there for a march to the legislature to express their disapproval at spending cuts and tax hikes introduced by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government.