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Catalonia: Carles Puigdemont accuses Spanish government of 'worst attacks' since dictatorship Catalonia: Carles Puigdemont accuses Spanish government of 'worst attacks' since dictatorship
(35 minutes later)
The leader of Catalonia has accused the Spanish government of the "worst attacks" on democracy since the Franco dictatorship. The leader of Catalonia has accused the Spanish government of one of the "worst attacks" on democracy since the Franco dictatorship.
Carles Puigdemont said Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was attempting to “humiliate'' the region and said it could not accept plans to curb autonomy.Carles Puigdemont said Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was attempting to “humiliate'' the region and said it could not accept plans to curb autonomy.
Mr Puigdemont said Catalonia will not accept direct rule from Madrid.  Mr Puigdemont said Catalonia will not accept direct rule from Madrid. 
Spain has experienced a bitter constitutional crisis since a banned independence referendum went ahead in Catalonia in early October.  He spoke out after Mr Rajoy said he wants the country's senate to give him direct power to dissolve the regional Catalan government and call an election as soon as possible.
  Mr Rajoy said after a cabinet meeting that the central government needs to take the unprecedented step of assuming control of Catalonia to "restore order" in the face of a secession effort backed by the regional government.
More follows… He is proposing that the powers of Catalan officials be taken over by central government ministers.
  Mr Rajoy's government is activating a previously untapped constitutional article to take control of Catalonia.
Spain has experienced a bitter constitutional crisis since a banned independence referendum went ahead in Catalonia in early October. 
The country only became a democracy after former ruler Francisco Franco died in 1975.
Hundreds of thousands of people were killed under his direction, including Catalan separatists, among others. 
Comparisons to the modern Spanish government with the dictatorship were made after TV footage was broadcast showing police reacting severely to referendum voters in Catalonia. 
Agencies