A massive anti-austerity march in Madrid on Sunday ended in violent clashes between protesters and police.

According to reports of hospitals in Madrid, as cited by ITAR-TASS, a total of 85, including 50 police officers, were injured during the rally.

The rally, held under the slogan "bread, work and a roof for all", brought together tens of thousands of people who had walked hundreds of kilometers from every corner of the country to gather in the center of Madrid early on Saturday.

After crossing key road arteries in the city, the protesters converged on Christopher Columbus Square.

Then they headed for the headquarters of the ruling center-right People's Party (PP).

Some protesters threw stones, bottles and projectiles  at police officers, who responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse them.

The demonstrators opposed the government's austerity policies which had brought about high unemployment rates, poverty and corruption.

They insisted that debt payments be stopped and the government adopt measures aimed at improving health and education.

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