ktlight
19th August 2011, 06:43
FYI:
Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Madrid for a million strong Catholic youth festival after Spain's riot police clashed with thousands of outraged demonstrators, protesting the costly four-day visit.
Benedict flew out of Rome around 9:30 a.m. (0730 GMT), hours after thousands took to the streets of Spain's capital to protest the controversial visit, AFP reported.
The official cost of the visit, excluding the price of upholding security, has been estimated at around EUR 50.5 million, but many of the protesters say the real cost to taxpayers will be well over EUR 100 million.
On the night before Pope's arrival, protesters and hundreds of young Roman Catholics hurled insult at each other, while lines of riot police separated them in Madrid's central square of Del sol, which has evolved into a protest hub in the city.
The police became involved in violent clashes with the demonstrators on Thursday evening.
An underground railway station in the area was also closed.
Spanish demonstrators shouted several slogans including, 'God yes, Church no,' 'Not with my taxes,' and "We are not the pope's youth."
Police have arrested seven people, while eleven people were injured lightly.
The visit comes as the Spanish government is currently struggling with economic crisis and has adopted austerity measures to meet tough deficit reduction targets.
The current unemployment rate stands 20.89 percent. However, the youth unemployment rate is over 45 percent.
source
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194512.html
Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Madrid for a million strong Catholic youth festival after Spain's riot police clashed with thousands of outraged demonstrators, protesting the costly four-day visit.
Benedict flew out of Rome around 9:30 a.m. (0730 GMT), hours after thousands took to the streets of Spain's capital to protest the controversial visit, AFP reported.
The official cost of the visit, excluding the price of upholding security, has been estimated at around EUR 50.5 million, but many of the protesters say the real cost to taxpayers will be well over EUR 100 million.
On the night before Pope's arrival, protesters and hundreds of young Roman Catholics hurled insult at each other, while lines of riot police separated them in Madrid's central square of Del sol, which has evolved into a protest hub in the city.
The police became involved in violent clashes with the demonstrators on Thursday evening.
An underground railway station in the area was also closed.
Spanish demonstrators shouted several slogans including, 'God yes, Church no,' 'Not with my taxes,' and "We are not the pope's youth."
Police have arrested seven people, while eleven people were injured lightly.
The visit comes as the Spanish government is currently struggling with economic crisis and has adopted austerity measures to meet tough deficit reduction targets.
The current unemployment rate stands 20.89 percent. However, the youth unemployment rate is over 45 percent.
source
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194512.html