MADRID. Spain (PNN) - July 20, 2012 - Spanish thug cops fired rubber bullets and charged protestors in central Madrid early Friday at the end of a huge demonstration against economic crisis measures.

The protest was one of over 80 demonstrations called by unions across the county against civil servant pay cuts and tax hikes, which drew tens of thousands of people, including cops and firefighters wearing their helmets.

"Hands up, this is a robbery!" protesters bellowed as they marched through the streets of the Spanish capital.

Some protestors threw bottles at thug cops and set up barriers made up of plastic bins and cardboard boxes in the middle of side streets leading to the square and set them on fire, sending plumes of thick smoke into the air.

Riot thug cops then charged some of the protestors, striking them with batons when they tried to reach the heavily guarded parliament building.

The protests held Thursday were the latest and biggest in an almost daily series of demonstrations that erupted last week when Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced measures to save 65 billion euros ($80 billion) and slash the public deficit.

Spain is struggling with its second recession in four years and an unemployment rate of more than 24%.

Under pressure from the European Union to stabilize Spain's public finances, the conservative government also cut unemployment benefits and increased sales taxes, with the upper limit rising from 18- 21%.

Critics say the government's new austerity measures will worsen economic conditions for ordinary people.

Spain is due this month to become the fourth eurozone country, after Greece, Ireland and Portugal, to get bailout funds in the current crisis, when it receives the first loan from a 100-billion euro credit line for its banks.

Eurozone leaders were expected to finalize the deal in a telephone conference on Friday.

Protestors complained that they were being made to pay for the financial crisis while banks and the rich were let off.