Catalonia crisis escalates as Spain set to impose direct rule within days
(The Guardian Spain)

Spanish prime minister says Catalan government´s powers will be returned to Madrid, as tensions rise between supporters and opponents of independenceSpain was plunged into political crisis on Saturday after the prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, announced that he was stripping Catalonia of its autonomy and imposing direct rule from Madrid in an attempt to crush the regional leadership´s move to secede.The decision, which prompted anger across Catalonia, has escalated Spain´s deepest constitutional crisis since the restoration of democracy in 1977. Observers say the move could resurrect the spectre of Basque nationalism, and have repercussions across a Europe facing the rise of separatist movements. Continue reading...