11 Nov 2012

Thousands protest against defence cuts in Portugal

5:13 pm on 11 November 2012

Thousands of members of the Portuguese armed forces have joined a protest against defence cuts.

The cuts have been imposed as part of a government austerity programme.

Saturday's march by serving members of the military as well as veterans, spouses and supportive members of the public was a disciplined affair with no slogan shouting reports the BBC, because the legal status of such events is ambiguous.

But those taking part said there was great anger at government plans to erode rights such as health care and above all freezing of promotions at a time when some members of the military are finding it difficult to make ends meet.