BARCELONA: Catalan pro-independence groups blocked roads and clashed with baton-wielding police on Friday in protests against a Spanish government cabinet meeting in Barcelona which separatists branded a provocation. Spain's wealthiest region, Catalonia is home to some 7.5 million people and has its own language. The Spanish government sent police reinforcements to Barcelona and Catalan leaders repeated their call for protests to be peaceful. - Divergent positions -Catalonia declared independence in October 2017 after pushing ahead with a banned independence referendum, but Spanish authorities stifled the attempt. Sanchez took office as prime minister eight months later after winning a surprise vote of no-confidence against the previous conservative government with the support of Catalan separatist parties.

Source: Bangkok Post December 21, 2018 11:37 UTC