Spanish government prepares to impose direct rule on Catalonia

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Barcelona – after Spain declared it wanted to seize control of the Catalan government and call new elections. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont – who Madrid has said will be removed from office – was among the crowds protesting against direct rule – and rejecting Spain’s call to abandon moves towards independence. But the Spanish prime minister said he needed the unprecedented new powers to “restore order”.