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| Spain moves to suspend Catalan autonomy | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Spain is to start suspending Catalonian autonomy on Saturday, after its leader threatened to declare independence. | |
| The PM's office said ministers would meet to activate Article 155 of the constitution, allowing it to take over running of the region. | |
| Catalonia's leader said earlier the region's parliament would vote on independence, backed in a disputed referendum on 1 October, if Spain "continues repression". | |
| Some fear the moves could spark unrest. | Some fear the moves could spark unrest. |
| "The Spanish government will continue with the procedures outlined in Article 155 of the Constitution to restore legality in Catalonia's self-government," Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's statement said. | |
| Article 155 of Spain's 1978 constitution, which cemented democratic rule after the death of dictator General Franco three years earlier, allows Madrid to impose direct rule in a crisis but it has never been invoked. | |
| Political leaders in Madrid and Barcelona have been engaged in a tense stand-off since the disputed referendum, which Catalan leaders say resulted in a "Yes" vote for independence but which the central government regards as illegal. |