More than 950 cities in 85 countries had signed up at press time for Saturday's global march against the ills of the political and economic system and to "demand a true democracy."

In Spain, where the 15-M movement — characterized by mass sit-ins in public squares — signaled the beginning of the grassroots protests, 60 cities are expecting street demonstrations. The thousands of organizers, who use both the internet and face-to-face meetings to coordinate their actions, say the protests will be peaceful.

Even Spain's Prince Felipe was invited to take part in the October 15 demonstrations by a 15-M activist who handed him a flyer for the march at a computer festival in Granada.

In Madrid, the "United for Global Change" march will end with two public assemblies in Sol square.