Thousands protest against Catalan independence from Spain

Tens of thousands of people on Sunday took to the streets of Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia to show their opposition to any declaration of independence from Spain, a move that shows how divided the region is on the issue.

The protesters rallied in central Barcelona, waving Spanish and Catalan flags and banners saying "Catalonia is Spain" and "Together we are stronger."

The demonstration on Sunday was organised by the anti-independence group Catalan Civil Society under the slogan "Let's recover our senses" to mobilise what it believes is a "silent majority" of citizens in Catalonia who oppose independence.

Following Catalonia's government resolve to declare independence from Spain this week, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Saturday he would not rule out removing Catalonia's government and calling a fresh local election should it claimed independence, as well as suspending the region's existing autonomous status.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is expected to address the region's parliament, on Tuesday, when he could unilaterally declare independence.

We feel both Catalan and Spanish," Araceli Ponze, 72, said as she rallied in Barcelona.

We are facing a tremendous unknown. We will see what happens this week but we have to speak out very loudly so they know what we want.

The wealthy northeastern region of 7.5 million people, which has its own language and culture, held an independence referendum on October 1 in defiance of a Spanish court ban.

More than 90 per cent of the 2.3 million people who voted backed secession, according to Catalan officials. But that turnout represented only 43 per cent of the region's 5.3 million eligible voters as many opponents of independence stayed away.

Losing Catalonia would be unthinkable for the Spanish government as it would deprive Spain of about 16 per cent of its people, a fifth of its economic output and more than a quarter of its exports.

It was a second day of protests after tens of thousands of people gathered in 50 cities across Spain on Saturday, some defending Spain's national unity and others dressed in white and calling for talks to defuse the crisis.