Hundreds of young people camped out overnight in Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Donostia-San Sebastian to protest against high unemployment and the Spanish government''s austerity measures.

According to Basque Interior Minister Basque police will only intervene against those gathered in case "serious public order distubances are registered ". Up to now, the rallies are developing in a peaceful way.

Around 300 people occupied Bilbao''s Plaza Arriaga overnight. Under the slogan ''Real Democracy now'' protests took part in the form of "small" workshops for 24 hours as a show of "protest and anger" with the slogan "Real Democracy Now" based on a manifesto "shared with all those taking to the streets in different cities."

Several students from the group organising the protest chose to remain anonymous on the grounds that "every voice is individual and no-one speaks for the movement." They said they hope for "a flood of interest" this weekend because "the next day people do not have to work ."

As such, they invited people "to join in the workshops that people want to organize, because it is a way of sharing things and of living an alternative lifestyle."

A series of cultural events will take place including belly dance workshops, storytelling, massage, oriental dancing and even a play scheduled for six o''clock on Sunday May 22nd, to coincide with the municipal and provincial elections.

Protests&' || 'nbsp; in Puerta del Sol

Thousands of young people camped out overnight in the main square of Madrid to protest against high unemployment and the Spanish government''s austerity measures.

The demonstrations who woke Saturday in Puerta del Sol plaza had made up on the largest crowd yet in nearly a full week of protests.

The demonstration was deemed illegal, but by morning, the number of protesters had thinned enough to allow cleaners in and traffic to flow as the sun rose.

Police say 25,000 protesters defied the ban, cramming into the square and filling the streets nearby.

There was a moment of quiet at midnight as the ban went into effect. Then the crowd erupted in jeers, cheers and chanting.

All of this began as a spontaneous sit-in in the centre of the capital by young people who are frustrated by mass employment and what they say are inept politicians.

Youth unemployment in Spain is at 45 percent. Overall, the country has a jobless rate of 21.3 per cent, the highest in the eurozone.

Since last Sunday, hundreds of young Spaniards have camped out in the square nightly, and by day, the square has been the scene of animated debates.

Spain''s electoral board ruled the camp should have been disbanded at midnight to allow for what is normally called a "day of reflection," when campaigning and political acts are banned the day before regional and local elections.

So far police have not intervened and the protests have grown larger by the day.