Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators rallied in Madrid yesterday to vent their rage at what they say is the Spanish government's "surrender" to Basque separatist guerrilla group ETA.
Angry at a government decision to grant house arrest to a multiple killer from ETA after he fell dangerously ill on hunger strike, protesters marched up Madrid's main 12-lane avenue in one of the biggest ETA-related protests ever seen.
Flanked by Popular Party (PP) councilors -- victims of ETA threats -- opposition leader Mariano Rajoy marched behind a banner declaring, "Spain for freedom. No more concessions to ETA", as tens of thousands waved Spanish flags behind him."The government had to twist the rules, trample on procedure and trick the Spanish to free an insatiable terrorist," Rajoy told the crowd.
"They are demands the terrorists imposed on the government to prove its goodwill. This is the toll the government has paid to negotiate. ETA doesn't want peace, it's looking for victory."
The protesters shouted for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, forming a throng estimated at 2.1 million-strong by the PP-controlled regional government.
Central government officials, who were not immediately available for comment, usually put the numbers involved in protests much lower.