Catalonia's Leaders Reject Spain's Plan To Impose Direct Rule On The Region

Daily Mail: 'The worst attack since Franco': Catalan leader slams Spain's PM after he sacks regional government to crush 'rebellion' as 450,000 take to streets to demand independence amid fears of new civil war

* Catalan protesters took to streets of Barcelona today as Mariano Rajoy announced plans to impose direct rule
* Spanish Prime Minister wants to sack autonomous region's government and call election within six months
* Also wants central government ministers to assume powers of Catalan officials to thwart independence bid
* Catalan president Carles Puigdemont branded the central government's plans an 'attack on democracy'
* And its parliament speaker Carme Forcadell accused the central authorities in Madrid of carrying out a coup

Nearly half a million protesters poured onto the streets of Barcelona today as Spain's Prime Minister outlined plans to impose direct rule over Catalonia and remove its leaders.

Mariano Rajoy wants to sack the region's government and call an election within six months in a bid to thwart a break away by the autonomous region.

But his strong stance, which includes a threat to arrest the region's president if he declares independence, led to Catalan President Carles Puigdemont accusing the Spanish leader of the worst attack on the region 'since Franco'.

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More News On The Spain - Catalonia Crisis

Catalonia's leaders fight off direct rule from Madrid -- Reuters
Catalonia independence: Puigdemont 'will not accept' Rajoy plan -- BBC
Spain Staging a ‘Coup’ in Catalonia, Parliament Official Says -- NBC/AP/Reuters
Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont: Removing powers 'worst attack since Franco dictatorship' -- Sky News
Catalan leader: Madrid's steps toward direct rule are 'worst attacks' since Franco's dictatorship -- RT
Hundreds of thousands join pro-Catalan independence rally -- FRANCE 24
Spain Says It Will Remove Catalonia's Leaders -- Voice of America
Spain's Prime Minister is sacking Catalonia's president and holding new regional elections, in an unprecedented move -- Business Insider
Spain Moves to Fire Catalonia's Leadership, Strip Region's Autonomy -- New York Magazine
How Madrid Plans to Oust Separatists and Run Catalonia -- Bloomberg
Catalan separatists prepare for war of attrition against Madrid -- The Guardian
Factbox - How will Spain's central government take control of Catalonia? -- Reuters