Catalonia crisis: Hundreds of thousands of protesters rally against independence in Barcelona

A pro-union demonstration organised by the Societat Civil Catalana, the main anti-independence group in Catalonia, makes its way through the streets of Barcelona on October 8, 2017. Rafael Marchante /Show more

Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving demonstrators packed central Barcelona on Sunday to rally against plans by separatist leaders to declare Catalonia independent following a banned secession referendum.

Catalans calling themselves a "silent majority" opposed to leaving Spain broke their silence after a week of mounting anxiety over the country's worst political crisis in a generation.

The crowd waved both Spanish and Catalan flags and chanted "Viva Espana! Viva Catalonia!" as they made their way through the streets of Barcelona under a clear blue sky.

"We have perhaps been silent too long," said Alejandro Marcos, 44.

"It seems that the one who yells the most wins the argument. So we have to raise our voices and say loud and clear that we do not want independence."

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Around 350,000 people attended the rally, municipal police said, while organisers put turnout at between 930,000 and 950,000.

Some protesters called for the region's separatist president, Carles Puigdemont, to go to jail for holding a vote on independence in defiance of the Spanish government and courts.

"The unity of Spain cannot be voted on or negotiated — it must be defended," read one sign in the crowd.

Others called for dialogue. The slogan for the demonstration, organised by the Societat Civil Catalana, the main anti-independence group in Catalonia, was: "Enough, let's recover good sense!"

Protesters also came from Madrid on Sunday, piling off the morning train at Barcelona's Sants station.

"A lot of ordinary Catalans felt under pressure," said Juan Gil-Casares, 33, who works in Madrid and travelled up with his family.

"We decided to come and support our compatriots and show them that they are not alone."

Recent polls had indicated that Catalans are split on independence, though leaders said police violence during the referendum turned many against the state authorities.

City police said 700,000 people joined a pro-independence protest in Barcelona two days after the vote.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of demonstrators, many dressed in white, hit the streets of Madrid and other cities across Spain to demand dialogue to end the dispute.

In an interview with El Pais newspaper published on Sunday, Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy issued a stern warning to Catalan leaders who have said they could declare independence this week.

He did not rule out moving to stop that by suspending Catalonia's regional autonomy — a move that could risk sparking unrest.

"I rule out absolutely nothing that is allowed for under the law," he said.

"The ideal would be not to have to take drastic measures."

"I would like this threat of a declaration of independence to be withdrawn as quickly as possible," he added.

Tensions soared after police cracked down on voters during the banned October 1 independence referendum, prompting separatist leaders to warn they would unilaterally declare independence.

Tentative signs emerged on Friday that the two sides may be seeking to defuse the crisis after Madrid offered a first apology to Catalans injured by police during the vote.

But uncertainty still stalks the country as Catalan leaders have not backed off from plans to declare the region independent.

Mr Puigdemont is scheduled to address the regional parliament on Tuesday evening.

It remains unclear what he plans to say, although some separatist leaders hope he will use the opportunity to declare independence.

Mr Rajoy assured Catalan leaders that there "is still time" to backtrack and avoid triggering a tough response from the central government in Madrid.