Thousands join rally for Spanish unity

HUNDREDS of thousands who want Catalonia to remain part of Spain have rallied in Barcelona, two days after separatists voted for the wealthy region to secede.

Organisers said the goal was to defend Spain’s unity and reject “an unprecedented attack in the history of democracy”. Leaders of rival pro-union parties joined under the slogan “We are all Catalonia. Common sense for co-existence!”.

Societat Civil Catalana president Alex Ramos said: “We are here to show that there is a majority of Catalans that are no longer silent and that no longer want to be silenced.” Catalonia’s separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, who was sacked along with his regional government, has called for Catalans to engage in peaceful opposition to Spain’s crackdown. The vote by pro-independence parliament members on Friday in favour of secession, and Madrid’s response, triggering unprecedented constitutional powers taking control of Catalan affairs, was the climax of Spain’s worst political crisis in decades. Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy also dissolved Catalonia’s parliament and called a new regional election for December 21. SOMALI security forces have ended a siege at a Mogadishu hotel by five extremists who stormed the building after a car bomber detonated a vehicle at the entrance gate, killing 23 people. Three attackers were killed.