Catalan independentism

Earlier, Catalan leaders had said they would not accept Spanish authority.
The government voted to strip Catalonia of its autonomy less than an hour after the region declared independence.
Catalonia declared independence on Friday. Minutes later, Spain imposed direct rule.
Instead, Carles Puigdemont made a “sincere and honest” offer for dialogue.
The region is divided over a movement to breakaway from Spain.
The autonomous state is set to hold an secession vote on Sunday, which Madrid has deemed “illegal and undemocratic.”