News In Brief

150,000 march in Madrid against education bill

About 150,000 people marched through the streets of Madrid Saturday to protest the Socialist government's plan to increase state control over private education.

The protesters, who traveled to Madrid from around the country, carried placards denouncing the government plan and released balloons that said, ''No to the LODE.''

The LODE, an acroynm for the Law of the Right to Education, is awaiting final approval by the national Senate. The bill stipulates that private schools receiving direct state subsidies must have their curriculum approved by the government. The measure has been a major cause of tension between the Roman Catholic Church and the Socialist government.