Squatters fan out to take more abandoned buildings in Madrid

Following Monday's eviction by police of about 100 squatters from an abandoned downtown Madrid hotel, protestors on Tuesday began taking over empty buildings around the Spanish capital as they continue to defy authorities.

The demonstrators, with links to the 15-M protest movement, moved into two abandoned buildings on Tres Peces and Toledo streets and threatened to take over other empty places. "For us, this eviction [from the hotel] is just another challenge. Why? Because we will continue. Why? Because we are greater in number," one protestor chanted through a megaphone.

Until Monday, about 100 people had been staying at the Hotel Madrid since October 15, providing shelter to families who have lost homes because of the mortgage crisis.

Armed with a court order, about 200 officers moved in and evicted them from the hotel and an empty theater next door that had also been squatted. Some 2,000 demonstrators marched in downtown Madrid on Monday night to protest the hotel evictions. Another rally had been scheduled for Tuesday night.