Catalonia on strike over independence poll violence

BARCELONA: Protesters blocked roads, public transport slowed to a crawl and FC Barcelona refused to train on Tuesday as Catalonia observed a general strike over police violence at a banned weekend independence referendum, reports AFP.

Schools and some businesses also shut in a dramatic protest bound to further ratchet up fever-pitch tensions with Spain's central government, as Madrid comes under growing international pressure to resolve its worst political crisis in decades.

The Port of Barcelona reduced services to a minimum, and protesters stood on roads and highways across Catalonia, blocking traffic. On the AP7 highway linking Barcelona to France two youths set up a folding table and played chess.

Catalan pro-separatist trade unions, schools and cultural institutions called for the stoppage to "vigorously condemn" the police response to the Sunday poll, in which regional authorities confirmed over 90 people were injured.

Catalonia's leader said 90 percent of voters backed independence from Spain, but the central government has vowed to stop the wealthy northeastern region -- which accounts for a fifth of Spain's economy -- from breaking away, dismissing the poll as a "farce".

In Barcelona the Metro provided only minimum service and passengers travelled for free, while major tourist sites like the city's emblematic Sagrada Familia Church were closed.

"It's a bummer because we're only here for a few days. But it's hard to say my vacation is more important than what is happening here," Karen Healey, 53, from Portland in the United States told AFP outside Gaudi's Casa Batllo in central Barcelona, also shut for the day.

 

Catalonia on strike over independence poll violence

BARCELONA: Protesters blocked roads, public transport slowed to a crawl and FC Barcelona refused to train on Tuesday as Catalonia observed a general strike over police violence at a banned weekend independence referendum, reports AFP. Schools and some businesses also shut in a dramatic protest bound to further ratchet up fever-pitch tensions with Spains central government, as Madrid comes under growing international pressure to resolve its worst political crisis in decades. The Port of Barcelona reduced services to a minimum, and protesters stood on roads and highways across Catalonia, blocking traffic. On the AP7 highway linking Barcelona to France two youths set up a folding table and played chess. Catalan pro-separatist trade unions, schools and cultural institutions called for the stoppage to vigorously condemn the police response to the Sunday poll, in which regional authorities confirmed over 90 people were injured. Catalonias leader said 90 percent of voters backed independence from Spain, but the central government has vowed to stop the wealthy northeastern region -- which accounts for a fifth of Spains economy -- from breaking away, dismissing the poll as a farce. In Barcelona the Metro provided only minimum service and passengers travelled for free, while major tourist sites like the citys emblematic Sagrada Familia Church were closed. Its a bummer because were only here for a few days. But its hard to say my vacation is more important than what is happening here, Karen Healey, 53, from Portland in the United States told AFP outside Gaudis Casa Batllo in central Barcelona, also shut for the day.