Catalonia crisis: protestors demand freedom of deposed leaders

Several major roads and some rail lines in Catalonia have been blocked by pro-independence activists protesting against the detention of the region's deposed leaders.

Demonstrators were moving onto around 60 roads across Catalonia today, as early as six in the morning. They have caused serious traffic jams on several key roads. A number of the protesters centred on the main access routs in and out of Barcelona, as well as a number of city centre avenues.

Catalonia’s transport authorities have issued a general warning for citizens not to travel by car today.

Several roads have been closed (Photo: BBC)

Despite transport delays, shops and businesses appear to be open as usual.

The region’s local police, the Mossos D’Esquadra, physically removed the protestors from the roads, allowing traffic to flow through. Despite a few brawls, the atmosphere seemed peaceful.

Trade union sources said that the education sector was seriously affected by the general strike, with Catalonia’s universities and around half the schools reported closed.

Police remove protesters blocking a street in Barcelona (Photo: BBC)

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has since called for a big turnout in the snap election so that Spain get over this crisis.

In a speech to parliament, he defended imposing direct rule on Catalonia following its unilateral declaration of independence, and calling an election for 21 December.

"A regional leader cannot say the Constitution doesn't rule in his territory,” Rajoy said with reference to ex-Catalan president Carles Puigdemont.

“A regional leader cannot invent a parallel legal framework... and a regional leader cannot declare unilaterally the independence of part of the national territory.”