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| Catalonia referendum: Thousands rally for Spanish unity | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people calling for Spanish unity have attended rallies in the capital Madrid after Sunday's disputed referendum for Catalan independence. | |
| Other demonstrations - including in the Catalan city Barcelona - have also been held urging political dialogue. | |
| Protesters dressed in white gathered with signs saying "Spain is better than its leaders" and "let's talk". | |
| Businesses have continued to announce their departure from the Catalan region amid the ongoing political uncertainty. | Businesses have continued to announce their departure from the Catalan region amid the ongoing political uncertainty. |
| The Caixa Foundation, which controls one of the Spain's largest banks, announced it was moving its headquarters to Palma de Mallorca while the crisis continues. | The Caixa Foundation, which controls one of the Spain's largest banks, announced it was moving its headquarters to Palma de Mallorca while the crisis continues. |
| The country is waiting for a speech on Tuesday by Catalan President Carles Puigdemont amid speculation he will declare independence. | The country is waiting for a speech on Tuesday by Catalan President Carles Puigdemont amid speculation he will declare independence. |
| The final results showed 90% of the 2.3 million people who voted backed independence. Turnout was 43%. | The final results showed 90% of the 2.3 million people who voted backed independence. Turnout was 43%. |
| What are the latest developments? | What are the latest developments? |
| Spain's government representative in Catalonia apologised on Friday to people hurt during police efforts to stop the referendum, but blamed the Catalan government for holding an illegal vote. | Spain's government representative in Catalonia apologised on Friday to people hurt during police efforts to stop the referendum, but blamed the Catalan government for holding an illegal vote. |
| Enric Millo said he could not help but "regret it and apologise on behalf of the officers that intervened", while casting doubt on the numbers said to be injured. | |
| Nearly 900 people were injured as police, trying to enforce a Spanish court ban on the vote, attempted to seize ballot boxes and disperse voters. Thirty-three police officers were also hurt. | Nearly 900 people were injured as police, trying to enforce a Spanish court ban on the vote, attempted to seize ballot boxes and disperse voters. Thirty-three police officers were also hurt. |
| The Spanish government's official spokesperson, Iñigo Méndez de Vigo, also apologised for the police violence and suggested that new elections in Catalonia might be a way to heal the fracture caused by the disputed referendum. | The Spanish government's official spokesperson, Iñigo Méndez de Vigo, also apologised for the police violence and suggested that new elections in Catalonia might be a way to heal the fracture caused by the disputed referendum. |
| Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is expected to address the Catalan parliament on Tuesday at 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) after Spain's Constitutional Court earlier suspended the Catalan parliament session that had been planned for Monday. | Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is expected to address the Catalan parliament on Tuesday at 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) after Spain's Constitutional Court earlier suspended the Catalan parliament session that had been planned for Monday. |
| There is speculation that the parliament will declare independence unilaterally at its next sitting. | There is speculation that the parliament will declare independence unilaterally at its next sitting. |
| There have been several claims of irregularities, and many ballot boxes were seized by the Spanish police. | There have been several claims of irregularities, and many ballot boxes were seized by the Spanish police. |
| Meanwhile, the former leader of Catalonia, Artur Mas, told the Financial Times newspaper that the region was not yet ready for real independence - even though he believed it had won the right to break away. | Meanwhile, the former leader of Catalonia, Artur Mas, told the Financial Times newspaper that the region was not yet ready for real independence - even though he believed it had won the right to break away. |
| Stepping back from the brink? | Stepping back from the brink? |
| By BBC's James Reynolds, Alicante | By BBC's James Reynolds, Alicante |
| The competing authorities in Barcelona and Madrid could each take a potentially dramatic step. | The competing authorities in Barcelona and Madrid could each take a potentially dramatic step. |
| Barcelona has the option of making a unilateral declaration of independence. For its part, Madrid has the power to dissolve self-rule in Catalonia. Each step - if taken - would provoke a constitutional crisis in Spain. | Barcelona has the option of making a unilateral declaration of independence. For its part, Madrid has the power to dissolve self-rule in Catalonia. Each step - if taken - would provoke a constitutional crisis in Spain. |
| There are some signs that each side may choose to pause. Mr Puigdemont says he will deliver a report to the Catalan parliament on Tuesday about the political situation - a deliberately vague form of words which gives him room for manoeuvre. | There are some signs that each side may choose to pause. Mr Puigdemont says he will deliver a report to the Catalan parliament on Tuesday about the political situation - a deliberately vague form of words which gives him room for manoeuvre. |
| More on the Catalan crisis | More on the Catalan crisis |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |