An earlier report...from barcelona.indymedia.org Fighting, barricades, burnings and rubber bullets. Tension is rising at the "Mars Attacks" demonstration on the upper part of the Ramblas. At 2.30pm the police violently baton-charged 800 people (which included people wearing black with covered faces), with the intention of clearing the street of people, who thus poured into side streets. Many bars have closed, thus stopping people from taking refuge. Some groups of people tried to stage a sit-down protest, but the police charges became increasingly violent until, at 20.30 the entire upper part of the Ramblas was in a state of siege. Barricades in flames, arrests, rubber bullets and injured journalists. Many journalists have been able to photograph the events. The TV3 news programme has stated that "the demonstration on the Ramblas is proceeding without incident"! In the concentration at Liceu, about halfway down the Ramblas, the situation is normal and people continue to demonstrate. The battle for barcelona chapter in "Durruti.the people armed,"by Abel Paz is good background for those interested.
