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The leader of Catalonia has accused Spain of showing a "totalitarian attitude" by trying to crush a planned independence referendum on October 1.

The first of more than 700 mayors under investigation for supporting a planned independence referendum for Spain's proud north eastern region have appeared before prosecutors.

Spain's national Civil Guard has also arrested 12 officials including a top official managing the region's economic affairs.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said the police operations are unlawful and are aimed at preventing Catalans from voting on October 1.

(Image: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

At their appearances in court, the mayors of the small towns of Oliana, Pont de Suert and Mollerussa were greeted by supporters who shouted "we will vote".

Spain's Constitutional Court has ordered the October 1 referendum suspended and the central government is waging myriad legal battles to halt it, claiming it is illegal.

People have been gathering in Barcelona today to protest at the Spanish government's actions and the arrests made by police, as this clip below shows.

Spanish police have continued raids to seize documents related to the referendum.

Catalonia, which represents a fifth of Spain's 1.1-trillion-euro economy, has some 900 mayors.

The region's 7.5 million inhabitants are nearly evenly divided over independence.

(Image: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) (Image: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Wednesday's raids mostly targeted the region's economic and foreign departments as Spanish authorities worked to halt all preparatory moves for the planned October 1 referendum, it was reported.

Hundreds of people gathered to protest against the raids and shout pro-independence slogans outside offices in the region's capital, Barcelona.

The Catalan regional government confirmed Josep Maria Jove, secretary general of economic affairs, was among those arrested.

Police and judicial authorities would give no details on the operation, saying a judge has placed a secrecy order on it.

Barcelona Football Club has issued a statement in support of the referendum.

Spain’s constitution describes the “indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation, the common and indivisible homeland of all Spaniards”.

This is one reason why the prospect of Catalonia – a financial powerhouse – has triggered such fierce resistance from Madrid.

(Image: AP)

It contrasts with precedent-setting decision to stage a referendum in 1973 on Northern Ireland remaining in the UK.

The constitutional clash in Spain gives a glimpse of what could have happened if the UK Government had tried to block the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

(Image: AP) (Image: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

In his New Year Message, Catalan leader Mr Puigdemont said that “if 50% plus one vote Yes, we will declare independence without hesitation”.

The Spanish embassy was invited to comment.

Leanne Wood: 'I call on all democrats to condemn the actions of the Spanish state'

(Image: Rob Browne)

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood condemned the Spanish Government, saying: “In a democratic country it is crucial that citizens are able to debate the future of their nation.

"The Catalan people are asking only for a vote on their nation’s future and for the Spanish Government to respond with threats and repression falls far short of modern democratic standards.

“Democracy and civil rights must be respected and the Catalan people must be allowed to hold a peaceful, transparent and democratic consultation on their nation’s future. I condemn any attempt to block that process.

“I call on all democrats to condemn the actions of the Spanish state and express solidarity with the Catalan people and their right to vote.”

Plaid AM Adam Price plans to be in Catalonia for the weekend of the referendum

He said: “The attempt by the Spanish state to stifle the right of the Catalan people to self-determination is the most egregious attack on democracy in western Europe since Franco.

"The raids on newspaper offices, the sequestration of the finances of the Catalan Generalitat and the threatened arrests of 700 mayors and the Catalan President and others contain ugly echoes of times we thought were long past.

“As in the 1930s when Wales showed its solidarity with the people of Catalonia and the Basque country, we must again express our solidarity and support for the right to democratic nationhood.

"I urge the political movements, political parties, government and communities of Wales to find within our history the seeds of renewed support for democracy in Catalonia.”

Hywel Williams: 'A affront to democracy'

(Image: Daliy Post/Caernarfon Herald)

The all-party group on Catalonia in the House of Commons is chaired by Plaid Arfon MP Hywel Williams.

He said: “It is up to the people of Catalonia to decide what their relationship with the Madrid government and the rest of the world should be. The effort to stifle the expression of the will of the people is an affront to democracy and should be condemned by people of all views who share our core European values.”

Welsh MEP to join 'observation mission'

Jill Evans, Plaid’s MEP, has added her voice to the denunciations of the Spanish Government’s actions and urged the European Commission to intervene. She plans to be part of an “observation mission overseeing the referendum”.

“Threatening elected officials with arrest for upholding a democratic decision to hold a referendum is outrageous,” she said. “The Spanish Government seems determined to disrupt a democratic referendum through intimidation.

“The government has obligations as an EU member to respect democratic decisions and the fundamental rights of all EU citizens. We are asking the European Commission to urgently address these issues, in particular the threats issued against elected mayors.”