Catalans want dialogue

BARCELONA — For or against independence, Catalans are reeling from police violence during an independence referendum banned by Madrid but far from locking horns with the Spanish government, they call for dialogue.

At the entrances to their offices, in front of press kiosks, in cafes and in queues at the market, the talk of the town in Barcelona is Sunday's vote that was marred by police use of force.

Madrid was against the referendum and had long told Catalan separatist leaders they could not go ahead with it, but they did anyway.

Riot police moved in on polling stations in towns and cities across Catalonia to stop people from voting, in some cases baton-charging and firing rubber bullets to disperse crowds.

'Really pained'

Antoni Crespo, 85, chats to a friend at the University of Barcelona, where this retired shoemaker is studying for a masters in philosophy.

"I'm really pained, really sad, really anxious, really disillusioned, really concerned about what happened," Crespo, a supporter of independence, tells AFP.

Footage of police grabbing those who were preventing them from closing polling stations, dragging some by the hair or hitting them with batons have spread through the media and social networks.

According to regional authorities, close to 900 people received medical attention.

The interior ministry said close to 40 police agents also needed medical aid.