Spain: Crisis meeting over plan to grab Catalonia powers

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is meeting his cabinet to set out specific powers it plans to seize from Catalonia.

It comes as the region's leader, Carles Puigdemont, refuses to abandon his threat to declare a breakaway state following a controversial independence referendum on 1 October.

The Madrid government is expected to implement measures under Article 155 of Spain's constitution.

This allows authorities to intervene when one of the country's 17 autonomous regions fails to comply with the law.

Mr Rajoy could force the removal of Catalan officials, and his government could call early elections in the regional parliament where separatists have held a majority since 2015.

:: What invoking article 155 means for Catalonia

Catalonia's administration currently runs its own policing, education and healthcare.

Reports suggest Mr Rajoy is also preparing to potentially take control of its police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra.

Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels on Friday, the Spanish Prime Minister said a "critical point" had been reached and that his government had to act to stop the rule of law being "liquidated".

Meanwhile, King Felipe has said Catalonia "is and will remain an essential part of 21st century Spain".

In an unusually emotional speech at a prize-giving ceremony, he said the Spanish government would resolve the fight over Catalonia's bid for independence through "legitimate democratic institutions".

King Felipe vowed: "Spain will deal with this unacceptable attempt at secession by using the constitution.

"We do not want to give up that which we have built together."

Autonomy is a hugely sensitive issue in Catalonia, which saw its powers taken away under Spain's military dictatorship.

Home to 7.5 million people, the region fiercely defends its own language and culture.