Thousands march over austerity cuts, arrests; union reax

(24 Nov 2011) SHOTLIST ++NIGHT SHOTS++ 1. Wide of riot police running running towards crowds gathered on street 2. Various of plain clothes police taking man into custody 3. Pan right police escorting a man arrested during the protest with press cameras following and filming 4. Various of line of riot police with protesters shouting angrily behind cordon 5. Wide of riot police guarding the parliament ++NIGHT SHOTS++ 6. Various of protesters breaking the security line outside Portuguese parliament 7. Riot police standing in line trying to hold back shouting protesters 8. Wide of riot police going down steps outside the parliament ++DAY SHOTS++ 9. Various of workers marching with flags and banners 10. Various of workers protesting outside parliament 11. Mid of workers and members of the "October 15 movement" protesting outside parliament 12. Pan right from parliament to people demonstrating 13. Wide of protesters (members of the "October 15 movement") marching 14. Mid of protesters carrying banners and running 15. Various of protesters playing music ++INTERIOR SHOTS++ 16. Wide leaders of the unions during news conference 17. Close banner reading (Portuguese) "General Strike" 18. SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese) Carvalho da Silva, leader of the CGTP workers union: "Today most of the Portuguese population did not go to their normal activities (referring to workplace) and we would like to say that this participation (referring to the strike) was complemented in part by the way we prepared for the strike. By itself, the strike, brought to the attention of Portuguese society important topics along with opinion from other sectors like scientists, intellectuals and from different organisations." 19. Various cutaways of media conference 20. SOUNDBITE: (Portuguese) Joao Proenca, leader of the General Workers' Union: "We want to overcome this crisis, to overcome the crisis we need growth. To overcome the crisis and to pay the debt we need growth and to increase incomes. The Troika (referring to representatives from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF) failed in Greece, we hope the Portuguese government can understand that the Troika will not be governing Portugal." 21. Mid of members of the union attending news conference STORYLINE Portugal's efforts to climb out of its economic crisis suffered a double setback on Thursday as its credit rating was downgraded again and a major strike gave voice to broad public outrage over austerity measures that have squeezed living standards. The scuffles between police and protesters outside the Portuguese parliament intensified as night fell, with police detaining at least three people. Some protesters tried to push through a security barrier, but were held back by a line of riot police. Thousands marched through Lisbon's streets as part of a major strike which gave voice to the anger over austerity measures that have squeezed living standards. The strike was called by Portugal's two largest trade union confederations, representing more than one (m) million mostly blue-collar workers. Protests focused heavily on austerity measures announced by the government and to be discussed by the lawmakers this month for inclusion in the 2012 budget. Portugal's government agreed to the measures in return for a 78 (b) billion euro (104 (b) billion US dollar) international bailout. The strike was called by Portugal's two largest trade union confederations and produced a huge turnout, making it possibly the biggest walkout in more than 20 years. Commuters had to get to work without regular bus or train services. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...