Oppose Madrid rule: Sacked Catalan president tells supporters

Sacked Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont has called his supporters to peacefully and democratically oppose a direct rule by Spain in a move that could escalate already high tension in the region.

Following the declaration of Independence by the Catalonia Parliament on Friday, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy removed Puigdemont, took over the administration of the autonomous region and set a new election.

It's very clear that the best form of defending the gains made up until now is democratic opposition to Article 155," Puigdemont said in a brief statement on Saturday, referring to the constitutional trigger for the takeover.

He said that Catalans must “continue defending” their new republic “with a sense of civic responsibility”.

Our will is to continue working to guarantee our democratic mandate, he said.

Meanwhile, European countries, the United States and Mexico have rejected the Catalan declaration and expressed support for Spain's unity.

Puigdemont signed the statement as president of Catalonia, demonstrating he did not accept his ousting.