Spanish defy protest ban ahead of elections

A demonstrator on the roof of a building in Puerta del Sol which is covered by protesters' banners Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images

A couple sweeps the floor in Puerta del Sol Photograph: Pablo Talamanca/EPA

Protesters sleep in Puerta del Sol in Madrid Photograph: Luca Piergiovanni/EPA

A protester climbs the gate of a metro entrance in Puerta del Sol in Madrid Photograph: Pedro Armestre/AFP/Getty Images

An elevated view of the demonstrators camp in Puerta del Sol Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters

A policeman holds back protesters as the Spanish prime minister José Luís Zapatero arrives to vote at the Colegio Nuestra Senora del Buen Suceso in Madrid Photograph: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

The Spanish prime minister, José Luís Zapatero, and his wife Sonsoles Espinosa arrive to vote at a polling station in Madrid Photograph: Pedro Acosta/AP

Protesters camp out in Madrid's Puerta del Sol Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters

A demonstrator gets out of his tent with a sign reading "I finally have my little house in the square" while camping out in Madrid's Puerta del Sol Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters

Demonstrators raise their hands in approval during an assembly to vote on whether to continue camping out in Madrid's Puerta del Sol Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters