MADRID: Tens of thousands of Spanish protesters have defied a government ban and camped out overnight in a square in the capital, Madrid.
The protesters are angry with the government's economic policies and have occupied the square for the past week.
The protest began six days ago in Madrid's Puerta del Sol as a spontaneous sit-in by young Spaniards frustrated at 45% youth unemployment and observed silence for a minute.
The crowd has grown to some 25,000 in the capital and has spread to cities across the country. Hundreds have camped out each night in Madrid.
They are demanding jobs, better living standards, a fairer system of democracy and changes to the Socialist government's austerity plans.
As the midnight deadline to disperse approached, many of the protesters wore tape over their mouths to imply they felt they were being prevented from speaking.
Police were on the scene but did not intervene and the outdoor sit-in appears to be growing rather than ending.
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