Spain: Hundreds of far-right demonstrators draped in Spanish flags marched through Madrid yesterday to demand that the government put a stop to immigration, which they said was turning them into foreigners in their own country.
The protest was attended by about 1,500 people, mostly young skinheads, who raised their fists in fascist salutes and shouted slogans such as "Viva Espana!"
"We are here to protest at the government's immigration policy, which is converting Spaniards into foreigners in their own country," said Fernando Cantalapiedra (25), the leader of the Falange, the far-right group which organised the march.
"The government is giving social benefits to immigrants when we have a serious unemployment problem," he said.
The Falange was one of the core supporters of fascist dictator Francisco Franco, who died in 1975. With 8,000 members, it describes itself as a promoter of national unity.
Demonstrators also burned a Catalan flag in an apparent protest at attempts this year by the Catalan and Basque regional governments to win greater autonomy from Madrid.
In February, Spain introduced a three-month amnesty for illegal immigrants as part of a drive to lift them out of the shadow economy, give them rights and make them pay taxes.
About 700,000 people took advantage of the scheme, which the government said was designed to help it better regulate immigration in a country which is a main gateway into the European Union from both Africa and Latin America.
Critics however say that the move risked worsening the problem of illegal immigration.
In recent weeks, large groups of African migrants have tried to get into Europe by storming razor-wire fences around Spain's two north African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
At least 11 people were killed while attempting to force their way across Europe's only land border with Africa.
Spain and France plan to present a joint plan on immigration to a European Union summit at Hampton Court near London later this month.
- (Reuters)