CATALAN REFERENDUM

Police seal off polling stations

London: Spanish national police have sealed off 1,300 of 2,315 schools in Catalonia designated as polling stations for the banned independence referendum, the government in Madrid says, reports BBC.

The move came as the Spanish authorities stepped up their attempts to stop Sunday's referendum.

Police have now occupied the regional government's telecommunications centre.

Catalonia, a wealthy region of 7.5 million people in north-eastern Spain, has its own language and culture. It has a high degree of autonomy, but is not recognised as a separate nation under the Spanish constitution.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to vote in Sunday's ballot, which has been declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court.

The authorities in Madrid have sent thousands of police to the region to stop it taking place. They have been ordered to clear schools occupied by activists - including parents and their children who remained in the buildings after the end of lessons on Friday - aiming to ensure the buildings can be used for voting.

CATALAN REFERENDUM

Police seal off polling stations

London: Spanish national police have sealed off 1,300 of 2,315 schools in Catalonia designated as polling stations for the banned independence referendum, the government in Madrid says, reports BBC. The move came as the Spanish authorities stepped up their attempts to stop Sundays referendum. Police have now occupied the regional governments telecommunications centre. Catalonia, a wealthy region of 7.5 million people in north-eastern Spain, has its own language and culture. It has a high degree of autonomy, but is not recognised as a separate nation under the Spanish constitution. Tens of thousands of people are expected to vote in Sundays ballot, which has been declared illegal by Spains Constitutional Court. The authorities in Madrid have sent thousands of police to the region to stop it taking place. They have been ordered to clear schools occupied by activists - including parents and their children who remained in the buildings after the end of lessons on Friday - aiming to ensure the buildings can be used for voting.