Police, Protesters Clash in Madrid in Anti-Austerity Demo

Baton-wielding riot police and demonstrators clashed in central Madrid on Wednesday as Spain held a general strike as part of a Europe-wide anti-austerity protest.

Across Spain meanwhile, an interior ministry spokeswoman said that by late morning police had arrested 62 people and 34 people had been injured in "isolated incidents," 18 of them police.

In the capital, police swung batons and pushed away activists as hundreds of young protesters tried to block the main Gran Via avenue, Agence France Presse journalists at the scene said.

Officers were seen detaining at least two protesters.

The demonstrators, who had been blocking traffic since early in the morning, regrouped a little further away after being dispersed.

Riot police deployed in large numbers in central Madrid, backed by a helicopter hovering overhead.