In pictures: Welfare protests

1 of 8 Up to a million people have demonstrated in Italy, Germany and France against welfare and economic reforms. Many pensioners joined a march in central Rome.

2 of 8 This woman used pot lids and colanders to demonstrate her anger about the rising price of basic necessities...

3 of 8 ... while others used parody as protest, such as this man, wearing a mask of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

4 of 8 Meanwhile, up to 200,000 people gathered in Berlin in protest at cuts in welfare provisions.

5 of 8 The Berlin protest was swelled from people from around the country - such as this miners' brass band from Saxony. Protesters' placards read: "Schroeder must go."

6 of 8 They were joined by other demonstrators around Germany including over 100,000 in Cologne...

7 of 8 ... and about 100,000 in Stuttgart. The government says an ageing population means spending must be cut. Protesters say the cuts are hurting vulnerable people in society.

8 of 8 Several thousand people also took to the streets in colourful protests in France.