Tens of thousands of Portuguese took to the street in the downtown of capital Lisbon on Saturday in protest against government's news austerity measures, which aimed at reaching the budget deficit targets set by international lenders for the rescue of the country's debt crisis.

The protesters marched along the Avenue of the Repulic towards the Spain Square raising and chanting slogans. Some of the angery protesters threw tamatoes, beer bottles and live fireworks to the police.

The armed police with dogs are on high alert in front of the office of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A police helicopter is hovering over the street to oversee the situation.

There is no confrontation between the police and the protesers but one man was arrested on the scene.

Protests were also staged in other Portuguese cities and oversees Portuguese communities but the number of the protesters is not known.

Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho announced on Sept. 7 new austerity measures to meet its deficit reduction targets for international bailout.

Passos Coelho said social security contribution from both public and private sector employees will increase from the current 11 percent to 18 percent and company will contribute less than employees to improve unemployment.

Portugal agreed last year to a 78-billion-euro bailout plan set by the European Union, the European Central Bank and the IMF and the country must reduce its budget deficit to 5 percent instead of the previous 4.5 percent of its gross domestic product this year. The country is struggling painfully to meet the target.