Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy urged Catalans on Sunday to oust separatists from their regional parliament in an early election he has called for Dec. 21. After Catalonia's Parliament voted Oct. 27 in favor of declaring independence, Rajoy responded by firing its government, dissolving its parliament and calling the early election. Participants wave Spanish flags as Rajoy speaks to the crowd during a Catalan regional People's Party meeting in Barcelona. Catalonia's separatists, and even some moderates, have criticized the measures as heavy-handed. "Exceptional measures can only be taken when there is no other option, and we adopted them to stop the increasing attacks to peaceful coexistence" in Catalonia, Rajoy said.

Source: CBC News November 12, 2017 17:48 UTC