amoco is blocked off access to parliament and had deployed more than 1000 police officers. protesters are angry at the cuts in pay and increases in taxis and blame the government and eu institutions for what they call unjust measures -- protesters are angry at the cuts in pay and increases in taxes. correspondent miles johnson is following events in madrid. massive protests today in spain -- why are people taking to the streets in such large numbers? >> i think we have now had months of austerity, but i think there is a growing sign that these austere measures often, in the form of numbers, as people read in the newspapers. >> it appears pretty clear that spain needs help, but the spanish government seems to still be very hesitant to formally ask for eu help. why is that? >> we have a bit of a stalemate at the moment. i think the political stigma, which is attached to requesting a bailout, which would really involve the prime minister going on television in front of his voters and saying, "i have failed" because he was elected in november to avoid this sort of state, but th