Spain announced on Saturday it will move to dismiss Catalonia's separatist government and call fresh elections in the semi-autonomous region in a bid to stop its leaders from declaring independence.

The drastic escalation of Spain's worst political crisis in decades will see separatist leader Carles Puigdemont and his administration stripped of their jobs, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told reporters after a crisis meeting of his cabinet.

Puigdemont's threat to declare independence "has been unilateral, contrary to the law, and seeking confrontation", said Rajoy, adding that he will seek approval from the Senate - where his conservatives hold an absolute majority - for permission to dissolve the Catalan parliament and call elections within six months. In the meantime, the jobs of Puigdemont and his team will be carried out by Spain's national ministers, Rajoy said.

In Barcelona, independence supporters took to their balconies banging their pots and pans in protest at Rajoy's decision.

Source: Khaleej Times