With tents, mattresses, a kitchen, a workshop and even a pharmacy, a protest camp in Madrid has grown into a real 'urban village' for thousands of young people. Under blue plastic tarpaulins, demonstrators have gathered in the landmark Puerta del Sol square in the centre of the Spanish capital.


With tents, mattresses, a kitchen, a workshop and even a pharmacy, a protest camp in Madrid has grown into a real 'urban village' for thousands of young people. Under blue plastic tarpaulins, demonstrators have gathered in the landmark Puerta del Sol square in the centre of the Spanish capital.

Many of them have spent several days and nights there, to decry politicians who left Spain with a 21 per cent unemployment rate. Calling for "Real Democracy Now," the protests popularly known as M-15 began on May 15, lamenting Spain's economic crisis, politicians in general, and corruption.

Protests continue in defiance of rally ban

When the ban came into force at midnight, at which point the protesters held a moment's silence, before the square erupted in cheers.

Political rallies are banned under Spanish law on the day before elections to allow for a "day of reflection". On Sunday, Spain will go to polls to elect over 8000 city council elections and 13 out of 17 regional governments.

The protesters object to the government's economic policies and have occupied the area for the past week.

Despite fears from some quarters of a possible police crackdown, the government has suggested it would not enforce the ban. Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said the police were "not going to resolve one problem by creating another".