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President Carles Puigdemont said people will not accept an unprecedented step by the Prime Minister to dissolve its government as the independence crisis deepens.

His comments come after nearly half a million people vented their fury on the streets of Barcelona in a huge protest.

Activists waved the Catalonian independence flag as tempers boiled over after the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's bombshell earlier today.

It had earlier emerged that the region's top politician could face arrest if he declares independence, and Madrid now plans to hold Catalan regional elections in January.

Outraged campaigners have also lashed out at the Spanish government for denying them their voice following the vote on October 1.

Speaking to journalists in the Spanish capital Mr Rajoy said: "They have ignored the law, the constitution and the statute.

"The government has had to impose Article 155, this was not our wish it was not our intention it never was.

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

"I am convinced that they wanted the 155 to be applied.

"Dialogue is a beautiful word. We invite the President to come to Parliament. He did not want to. If Catalonia becomes independent, it leaves the EU and the World Trade Organization."

The decision means that for the first time in Spain's 40-year history as a democracy the regional government in Barcelona will transfer powers back to Madrid.

European Union budget commissioner Gunther Oettinger warned that the situation could descend into civil war.

He said: "There is a civil war imaginable now in the middle of Europe. One can only hope that a thread of conversation will soon be recorded between Madrid and Barcelona.

(Image: PA)

Head of state King Felipe inflamed tensions last night by stating that Catalonia "is and will" remain part of Spain at a prize-giving ceremony.

He said: "Spain needs to face up to an unacceptable secession attempt on its national territory, which it will resolve through its legitimate democratic institutions."

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said he wants as broad a consensus as possible before taking the step, which has raised the prospect of more large-scale protests in Catalonia, where pro-independence groups have been able to bring more than one million people out onto the streets.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, a former journalist who is spearheading the secession campaign, has refused to renounce independence, citing an overwhelming vote in favour of secession at a referendum on October 1.

Regional authorities said around 90% voted for independence though only 43% of voters participated. Opponents of secession mostly stayed home.

Spanish courts have ruled the referendum unconstitutional, but Puigdemont says the result is binding and must be obeyed.

On Thursday, EU leaders including Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Emmanuel Macron, offered their support for Rajoy at an EU leaders summit in Brussels.

(Image: GETTY)

If Rajoy announces the direct control measures this afternoon, Spain's upper house will have to approve them in a session which could take place on October 27.

Actions could range from dismissing the Catalan parliament and government, to a softer approach of removing specific heads of department.

Direct rule from Madrid would be temporary while regional elections are held to form a new government.