Riot police and anti-austerity protesters clashed in Spain and Italy yesterday as anger boiled over on a day of Europe-wide strikes and mass demonstrations that drew tens of thousands of people and paralyzed transport and industry.

“Europe is waking up today — from Rome to Madrid to Athens,” said Mario Nobile, a 23-year-old university student in Rome.

General strikes in Spain and Portugal paralyzed swathes of industry and hit road, rail and air transport, as workers vented their frustration at state cut-backs aimed at dragging the euro zone out of its deep debt crisis. Seething workers also staged industrial walkouts in Italy and in Greece.

The European Trade Union Confederation behind the “Day of Action and Solidarity” said it was the first time four countries had held coordinated strike action in Europe.

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