Spain's Constitutional Court annuls Catalan independence declaration

Roads, motorways and train-lines blocked by protesters across Catalonia this morning

The strike has been called to protest the incarceration of pro-independence campaigners

The demonstrators are also protesting the charges against the deposed Catalan cabinet

Spain is looking at changing the law to allow regional independence referendums in the wake of the political crisis in Catalonia following it's 'illegal' vote on secession last month.

Spain's Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis has said that the government is considering making changes to the parts of the constitution that governs autonomous regions' rights to vote on independence, comments seen as a peace offering to the now-ousted Catalan government.

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Catalonia has been rocked by protests since Wednesday morning, and the region's separatist movement suffered another blow in the afternoon when Spain's constitutional court annulled their declaration of independence.

Protest: Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the local parliament building in Sant Jaume square in central Barcelona to take part in a demonstration during a partial regional strike in Catalonia

The court had initially suspended implementation of the secession declaration last month while it studied its legality following a challenge by the Spanish government.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Dastis said: 'We have created a committee in parliament to explore the possibility of amending the constitution to be able to accommodate better the aspirations of some of the Catalan people,

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'We acknowledge there is a political situation that deserves to be looked at but, in any case, it's clear that the decision will be taken, will have to be taken by all Spaniards.'

This followed region-wide demonstrations in Catalonia, which saw pro-independence protesters block roads and stop commuter trains as part of a strike to protest the jailing of ousted Catalan government officials and secessionist activists before and after the Oct. 27 declaration.

One group forced the closure of a busy route near Barcelona by burning tires, while other demonstrators halted traffic on several main highways with human chains or wooden pallets.

People take part in a protest against the imprisonment of pro-independence leaders and to demand their freedom at Cathedral Square in Barcelona

Catalonia has been rocked by protests and the region's separatist movement suffered another blow in the afternoon when Spain's constitutional court annulled their declaration of independence

Demonstrating: A woman is seen loudly protesting when police attempt to remove her from a human chain in Barcelona as protests were held across Catalonia on Wednesday morning

A large protests blocks a highway in Borrassa, near Girona, with demonstrators standing in the way of lorries

Demonstrators, most of them students, block the tracks at Sants train station during the protest in Barcelona today

Some train lines were also targeted, the most high-profile incident happening as 600 people entered the high-speed AVE railway station in deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont's home city of Girona to interrupt traffic during rush hour

Eight former members of Puigdemont's deposed Catalan government, including ex vice-president Oriol Junqueras, are also in jail awaiting trial on similar charges, after it was ruled they were too much of a flight risk to be released on bail. Pictured: Sants train station today

Madrid has issued an arrest warrant against Puigdemont, but a Brussels court ruled on Monday he could remain at liberty in Belgium until it had decided whether he should be extradited

Protesters hold up banners during a demonstration in front of the regional government headquarters in Barcelona

Around 50 roads including two motorways as well as several train lines were said to have been affected by breakfast time today.

Spain's Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis has said that the government is considering making changes to the parts of the constitution that governs autonomous regions' rights to vote on independence

Picketers who stopped traffic on the motorway at San Juan Despi, half an hour's drive west of Barcelona, unfurled a huge banner which said: 'Sorry for the Inconvenience. Catalan Republic under construction.'

Protesters on the motorway at nearby St Boi de Llobregat forced traffic to a halt by setting light to tires they had laid across the carriageway.

Drivers trying to get to work reacted to the road closures by tooting their horns continuously, adding to the chaos affecting the region.

Some train lines were also targeted, the most high-profile incident happening as 600 people entered the high-speed AVE railway station in deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont's home city of Girona to interrupt traffic during rush hour.

Later in the morning, hundreds of protesters gathered in Sant Jaume square in central Barcelona to take part in a demonstration.

There were no reports of any problems at Barcelona's El Prat airport this morning, although getting into and out of the Catalan capital was said to be difficult.

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Catalan transport chiefs advised the public to leave their cars at home.

The strike has been called by a pro-independence union to protest at the jailing of sacked members of the Catalan government, the continued incarceration of the leaders of two pro-independence grassroots movements and the Spanish government's imposition of direct rule.

Clashes: Catalan regional policemen drag a picketer away from the road at the Placa Cerda square in Barcelona during a general strike to protest in the city

Police remove protesters blocking a ring road in Barcelona during a partial regional strike called to demonstrate the incarceration of political activists and the ousted regional government today

Road block: Around 50 roads including two motorways as well as several train lines were said to have been affected by breakfast time today as police and demonstrators clashed across Catalonia

Jordi Cuixart, leader of Catalan group Omnium Cultural, and Jordi Sanchez, president of the Catalan National Assembly were remanded in prison last month after they were quizzed by a judge on suspicion of sedition.

Eight former members of Puigdemont's deposed Catalan government, including ex vice-president Oriol Junqueras, are also in jail awaiting trial on similar charges, after it was ruled they were too much of a flight risk to be released on bail.

Puigdemont on the other hand, remains in Brussels, where he and four other ex-ministers are trying to persuade the EU to get involved in the Catalan dispute.

Action: Policemen drag a picketer blocking the street at the North Bus Station in Barcelona

A Catalan regional policeman talks to picketers blocking the nudo de la Trinidat access road to Barcelona=

One group forced the closure of a busy route near Barcelona by burning tires, while other demonstrators halted traffic on several main highways with human chains or wooden pallets

A banner reads 'independence' as vehicles are stuck in a traffic jam after protesters blocked a road in Odena,Barcelona today

All five fled to Belgium last week and - along with the eight ex-ministers in jail - face charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of public trust for organising an illegal independence referendum on October 1 and later proclaiming a Catalan republic.

Madrid has issued an arrest warrant against Puigdemont, but a Brussels court ruled on Monday he could remain at liberty in Belgium until it had decided whether he should be extradited.

Today, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Micheldenied his government was in 'crisis' over the arrival and possible subsequent extradition of Puigdemont.

The issues surrounding the Catalan bid for independence risks reigniting Belgian communal tensions, and Flemish separatist members of the coalition government has spoken out in support of Puigdemont.

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'There is a political crisis in Spain and not in Belgium,' Michel told the Belgian parliament Wednesday.