Police arrested 12 of the 300 immigrants who demonstrated in Almeria against the refusal of their residence permit. The protesters concentrated in a square next to the government's Office. They accuse the police of attacking them twice and forcing them to disperse. Fernando Hermoso, government's adviser in Almeria, asserted that the only incident was 'provoked by a single demonstrator who affronted the police, and forced them to defend themselves, although they did so mildly'. According to Hermoso the police only requested proof of ID from the demonstrators, and that is when they started running: 'It was an illegal protest, as they had not obtained permission, and they are "illegals". We have to respect the law', added the government's representative, claiming that he had consulted Almeria's mayor, Santiago Martinez (PSOE) before dispersing the demonstrators.