SPANISH PM VOWS TO END 'SEPARATIST HAVOC'

MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said regional elections next month in Catalonia will help end "separatist havoc" in the northeastern region. He addressed a campaign event on Sunday on his first visit there since imposing direct rule on the region a fortnight ago, BBC reported. Defending his decision in Barcelona, he said he had "exhausted all roads" after the Catalan government's unilateral declaration of independence last month. Several key Catalan leaders are currently being detained over the move.