Catalan president says Madrid is suspending region´s autonomy
(The Guardian Spain)

Police raid Catalan government buildings in Barcelona and arrest 12 senior officials in run-up to banned independence voteThe Catalan president has accused the Spanish government of effectively suspending the region´s autonomy and declaring a de facto state of emergency. Police officers raided Catalan government offices on Wednesday and arrested 12 senior officials in a bid to stop an independence referendum being held in less than two weeks´ time.Carles Puigdemont described the raids as a `a co-ordinated police assault` that showed that Madrid `has de facto suspended self-government and applied a de facto state of emergency` in Catalonia. Related: `They`ve called me a traitor`: Catalans divided as independence vote nears Es un escàndol democràtic que s`escorcolli institucions i es detinguin càrrecs públics per motius polítics. Defensem institucions catalanes Related: Catalonia divided as controversial poll on independence sparks conflict with Madrid The Spanish government argues that any referendum on Catalan independence would be illegal because the country´s 1978 constitution makes no provision for a vote on self-determination. Continue reading...