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| Catalonia independence: Spain PM dissolves Catalan parliament | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy says he is dissolving the Catalan parliament and calling regional elections over its push for independence. | Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy says he is dissolving the Catalan parliament and calling regional elections over its push for independence. |
| The prime minister said the unprecedented imposition of direct rule on Catalonia was essential to "recover normality" in the region. | The prime minister said the unprecedented imposition of direct rule on Catalonia was essential to "recover normality" in the region. |
| He is also firing Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his cabinet. | He is also firing Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his cabinet. |
| Earlier, the Catalan parliament unilaterally voted to declare independence. | |
| Mr Rajoy made the announcement following a frantic day of developments in the row over Catalan independence. | |
| The Spanish Senate granted Mr Rajoy's government the constitutional power to suspend Catalan autonomy, and after a cabinet meeting Mr Rajoy spelled out what that would entail. | |
| Promising "free, clean and legal" elections, he called the situation "sad", saying: "We never wanted to come to this." | |
| The elections are scheduled for 21 December. Mr Rajoy also announced the sacking of the Catalan police chief. | |
| After the Catalan parliament voted to declare independence, thousands took to the streets to celebrate. | |
| Separatists say the move means they no longer fall under Spanish jurisdiction. | |
| But the Spanish Constitutional Court is likely to declare it illegal, while the EU, the US, the UK, Germany and France all expressed support for Spanish unity. |