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| Catalan referendum: Vote illegal - Spain's King Felipe | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Spain's King Felipe VI has condemned organisers of Catalonia's independence referendum for having put themselves "outside the law". | Spain's King Felipe VI has condemned organisers of Catalonia's independence referendum for having put themselves "outside the law". |
| In a TV address to the nation, he said the situation in Spain was "extremely serious", and called for unity. | In a TV address to the nation, he said the situation in Spain was "extremely serious", and called for unity. |
| Hundreds of thousands in Catalonia have been protesting over Spanish police violence during Sunday's vote, during which nearly 900 people were hurt. | |
| The central government in Madrid has described the referendum as illegal. | The central government in Madrid has described the referendum as illegal. |
| During the vote, 33 police officers were also injured, local medical officials said. | |
| In his address, King Felipe VI said Catalan leaders who organised the referendum showed their "disrespect to the powers of the state". | |
| "They have broken the democratic principles of the rule of law. | |
| "Today, the Catalan society is fractured," the king said, warning that the poll could put at risk the economy of the wealthy autonomous north-eastern region and the whole of Spain. | |
| But he stressed that Spain "will overcome difficult times". | |
| Huge protest rallies have been taking place across Catalonia. | |
| In Barcelona alone, 700,000 people took to the streets, city police were quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. | |
| This has not been confirmed by the authorities in Madrid. | |
| More than 50 roadblocks in the city caused big traffic jams. Barcelona's metro traffic was cut to a 25% service during rush hour and no trains at all at other times. | |
| Barcelona's port was at a standstill, trade union sources said. | |
| Top tourist attractions were also closed, including the city's famous Sagrada Familia church. | |
| Mercabarna - Barcelona's massive wholesale market - was left deserted as some 770 food businesses closed for the day. | |
| However, the city's El Prat airport and its taxis are operating normally. | |
| Many small businesses have shut for the day. Schools, universities and medical services were also closed or operating at a minimum level. | |
| The strike was called in protest at "the grave violation of rights and freedoms" seen during Sunday's ballot. | |
| Some police officers were seen firing rubber bullets, storming into polling stations and pulling women by their hair. | |
| Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said the vote made a "mockery" of democracy. | |
| Earlier on Tuesday, Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said: "We see how day after day the government of Catalonia is pushing the population to the abyss and inciting rebellion in the streets." | |
| He also warned that the central government would take "all measures necessary to stop acts of harassment". | |
| Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría condemned the "mafia" behaviour of those protesters who had earlier gathered around hotels housing Spanish police officers and demanded that they leave. | |
| On Sunday, more than 2.2 million people reportedly voted in the referendum. The Catalan government says the vote in support of independence was nearly 90%, but official results have not yet been released. | |
| Turnout was relatively low at a reported 42%, potentially weakening the position of Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont. |