Catalonia's secessionist leader Carles Puigdemont stood defiant on Saturday against Madrid's moves to depose him, urging "democratic resistance" to direct rule imposed in a bid to stop the region breaking away from Spain.

In a televised statement, Puigdemont accused the central government of trampling on the will of independence-seeking Catalans who rejoiced at Friday's vote by regional lawmakers to declare an independent republic. Madrid's response to seize Catalan powers constituted an "aggression", he said, but insisted "democratic opposition" was the only response.

The central government's intervention was "contrary to the will expressed by the citizens of our country at the ballot box," Puigdemont said. "In a democratic society, only parliaments can appoint or dismiss presidents."

In a government notice published on Saturday, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's deputy Soraya Saenz de Santamaria was put in charge of administering the region.

Source: Khaleej Times