'Spanish king ignored millions of Catalans'

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has attacked Spain's King Felipe VI for "deliberately ignoring millions of Catalans", after a disputed vote was held on its independence from Madrid, the media reported.

"This moment calls for mediation," he said in a televised statement late Wednesday.

He claimed that the king had rejected a moderating role granted to him by the Spanish constitution, the BBC reported.

Puigdemont accused King Felipe VI of adopting the Spanish government's position.

The leader, however, did not give any further details of a possible declaration of independence.

In response, the Spanish government said it would not accept "blackmail" from the Catalan leader.

Puigdemont must return to the path of law before any negotiation could take place.

His criticism of the king showed that he was "out of touch with reality", it added.

The Catalan government said that there will be an "extraordinary meeting" of parliament on October 9 to discuss the outcome of Sunday's disputed referendum, BBC reported.

According to Catalan officials, more than 2.2 million people voted on Sunday and that nearly 90 per cent of them backed independence. The turnout has been estimated at 42 per cent.

Nearly 900 people were hurt as police violently tried to enforce a Spanish court order suspending the vote, which the government had declared illegal.

--IANS

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