The full story... Ex-minister backs bailout for Spain ELEANOR HALL: Chaos has been spreading across Europe over the last 24 hours, with millions of people in several countries taking to the streets to vent their anger over austerity measures. Hundreds of flights across the continent have been cancelled; car factories and ports are at a standstill; and rail services have been disrupted, as part of a co-ordinated general strike. More than 70 people have been arrested so far in the protest action in Spain and police have fired rubber bullets at protesters in central Madrid. But while the Spanish government is imposing salary cuts and tax hikes, so far it's resisted taking out a bailout. Alejandro Inurrieta is a minister or was a minister in the previous socialist government and he says that is a mistake. He spoke in Madrid to our Europe correspondent Mary Gearin. ALEJANDRO INURRIETA: Well, my opinion is that Spain should accept money from the UN and the International Money Fund because we need right now a lot of money to repay our debt, our huge debt especially private debate not public debt. The problem is that because of the policy, European policy especially German policy we are suffering in Spain. The Spanish society suffering probably the worst crisis, social and economic crisis since probably the finish of the civil war. MARY GEARIN: So should the Spanish government have accepted a bailout by now? ALEJANDRO INURRIETA: By now I mean, a long time ago. The reason,