theyjust established their main distribution point in barcelona, catalonia. why do you talk for the people who are trying to open up hotels? why do you talk to all of the visitors we are having increasingly in our town? this is — especially barcelona is a success city. and nothing of that is happening. there are political moves by companies who are being pressured by the spanish government to move out, and that is the way the spanish government tries to seduce the catalan people. if instead of accusing our leaders of sedition, which is a very old—fashioned crime — which they imposed, for instance, on mahatma gandhi, in 1922, almost 100 years ago — if instead they tried to seduce the catalan people, probably the spanish government would be a better situation keep catalonia within the kingdom of spain, i'm sure. all right, alfred bosch, i thank you very much for being on hardtalk. most welcome. hello. it looks as though friday is going to start on a fairly cool note across the british isles, despite the fact that much of the breeze is coming in from the

the regional government in catalonia didn't. it is a question, it is not a question of law and democracy. what is the law in a democratic world ? what is the law in a democratic world? is the expression of democratic dialogue. you want to change the constitution, come, proposes, if you have enough support we will change it. we will all be able to vote. mr toledo, let us move on to another issue which is very much in your portfolio, given that you are responsible for eu affairs. that is the state of the brexit negotiations. the british government is very keen to see the eu move on to the next phase of brexit negotiations when the european council meets in december. the british say they have done enough on the various first phase issues to move to the really big deal, which is talking about the future trade relationship. do you, in spain, ce enough progress made for you and your government to back a move to the second phase of the brexit negotiations —— see enough question whether negotiations are under way as we talk. i hear

and catalonia is not scotland it is for the people of catalonia to decide their own future on least it should be. what i've called for is the right of the people to decide freely and fairly they should be able to vote for or against independence but vote state police baton raining down on the heads of folk old age pensioners being beaten up for women being dragged down stairs vote rubber bullets with thugs and police uniforms seizing ballot boxes of the courts being used for political purposes and the vote democratic politicians being locked up for being well democratic politicians the response of the powers that are in europe has been pathetic state convenience takes priority over democracy what a dangerous precedent that creates and equally what a lesson that would be if a movement for peaceful democratic progress could be successful if the people can deliver change through votes and ballots not bombs and bullets democracy will prevail says catalonia as president let's hope he's right from tells me that and i until the next day good bye for now. it's the cradle of jazz. that knows

we can expect that he will defend his strategy he will defend how he handles the crisis in catalonia. for sure he's not going to move for a centimeter from his way and his way has been rather bureaucratic say some observers he wasn't a politician with a lot of charisma in the past his popularity rating was really low too low so far and he's been winning popularity again in the rest of spain so he will just support the regional candidate there in catalonia and then hope for the best during the fall for these predate snapshot elections in december michael out of time and spain thank you very much you're welcome lebanon is calling for answers after its prime minister saad hariri resigned unexpectedly he announced he was stepping down during a visit to saudi arabia last week lebanon has now called on the saudi government to explain why he is still there and has not returned home on saturday hariri appeared on state television with the saudi king the lebanese government believes hariri is being held against his will his surprise resignation has plunged lebanon into a political crisis and m

we decided the president of catalonia is the best icon we have so we will not surrender it. like the dalai lama, did he surrender? no, he didn't. we have to stick by him. he needs to be in the capital of europe for the time being. that might change. sorry to interrupt, but let's go through this bit by bit. i am serious. isn't it true he has gone to brussels as nobody of any significance in the institutions or leadership of member states, they don't want to talk to him, they will not touch him with a barge pole. first thing, i think it is not something to be laughed at. our people were butchered by the police for voting. elderly ladies, grandmothers, grandfathers, they we re grandmothers, grandfathers, they were beaten up, whole families were beaten up for voting, just for going to the voting stations. that is something that deserves attention from europe, from everybody in the world. and what carles puigdemont, the catalan president, is doing right now, is pursuing that international agenda. that does not mean we will have instant success because european leaders see what's

the regional government in catalonia didn't. it is a question, it is not a question of law and democracy. what is the law in a democratic world? is the expression of democratic dialogue. you want to change the constitution, come, propose it, if you have enough support we will change it. we will all be able to vote. mr toledo, let us move on to another issue which is very much in your portfolio, given that you are responsible for eu affairs. that is the state of the brexit negotiations. the british government is very keen to see the eu move on to the next phase of brexit negotiations when the european council meets in december. the british say they have done enough on the various first phase issues to move to the really big deal, which is talking about the future trade relationship. do you, in spain, see enough progress made for you and your government to back a move to the second phase of the brexit negotiations? well, negotiations are under way as we talk. and will be under way for the next week or ten days. i hear there is som

after catalonia has referendum madrid dismissed the region's government former ministers and separatist leaders were taken into custody on charges of sedition others fat to belgium including former catalan president karl has pushed him over madrid has issued a european arrest warrant that could see him extradited to spain he says madrid is wrong to prosecute him and his former ministers. you know to be treated like a criminal like a drug trafficker like a pedophile like a serial killer i think this is abuse this isn't politics this is using the courts to do politics. has called on the european union to intervene. well the some of the it is very disappointing to see that the european union that we're all part of they can respond to situations of poland and hungary but cannot respond to the situation in couple or near the stop or summit of the world. the situation came to a head on october the first as catalans went back to vote in what madrid called an illegal referendum they were met with scenes like these. yet many catalans were outraged madrid's heavy handed approach may well have boo

protesters have filled the streets of barcelona demanding the release of officials jailed for back in catalonia into pendants from spain at least eight former members of the cabinet are in prison on charges of sedition rebellion and misuse of public funds on friday former catalan parliament speaker come if i could tell was released from prison after she posted bail she'd been jailed as part of an investigation into the circumstances that led to catalonia to carrying independence from spain. joining us from moore is the correspondent out in hana in the land here now michael the former leader of catalonia catalyst which amount called for catalan to create common noise in the protests today have they made enough noise will it make any difference to their hopes of seeing independence catalonia. well the protests tonight turned out to be really massive for some estimates say more than seven hundred thousand people we will see how these figures turned out later others were talking about up to one million people on the streets of prosser loner tonight so the demonstration itself was loud it was clear

i think so well we should remember just over a month ago there were two million people in catalonia voting for their own independent state during a referendum that later was declared illegal so these people have not simply changed their mind over the past weeks these are the people that we now see again on the streets of barcelona all the observers and journalists expect massive participation during the protest for today and so i think the political parties who reflect the views of these people certainly expect that they will increase or at least gain the same roads than they did in the last elections in two thousand and fifteen just remind our viewers that we are getting live pictures from catalonia where those demonstrations are happening but back to you michelle with the x. lead a color switched on currently fighting extradition in brussels has madrid won this round in the battle for catalonia independence. madrid certainly won all the legal battles so far but that has been at the center of the criticism of many people actually i spoke to a judge yesterday who is the spokes perso

by any anybody really in catalonia unless the people who are already on the side of the conservative party michael at the head in spain thank you very much. you're welcome lebanon is calling for answers after it's prime minister hariri resigned unexpectedly he announced he was stepping down during a visit to saudi arabia last week lebanon has now called on the saudi government to explain why he's still there and has not returned home on saturday hariri appeared on state television with the saudi king the lebanese government believes hariri is being held against his will his surprise resignation has plunged into a political crisis and made it the new focus of the long run in power struggle between saudi arabia and iran. a european slot for the world cup is at stake when switzerland face off against northern ireland in the second leg of the playoffs later today the favorite swiss one the first like in belfast thanks to a controversial penalty. northern ireland that its fans were left demoralized after a referee mistake gave switzerland a slender lead in the first leg in belfast on thur

there i don't think unless they do this finally there won't be a political solution in catalonia. correspondent in spain. thank you for the us. now heiler star arnold schwarzenegger has been flexing his environmental muscles at the u.n. climate conference in bonn in germany the terminator actor and former governor of california is highly critical of the climate policies of u.s. presidents donald trump he's campaigning for more green energy and cuts in emissions but he says too many people still just don't know what's at stake. carlos watson agar is no newcomer to environmental activism but in bonn he said environmentalist's need to find ways to get their point across more effectively i can do the best action movie in the world but if i don't know how to communicate to the people to get them into the theater the movie is going to die at the box office it is going to go in the toilet so this is why it is so important it is.

so far the political fallout from catalonia as independence bid shows no sign of being contained on the contrary all sides digging in for a protracted battle my guess this week here in brussels is spain's foreign minister alfonso das this how has his government failed to prevent the country's worst and arguably its most predictable political crisis in decades. alphonso that is welcome to conflicts on thank you very much pleased to be here promise to run it was in barcelona at the weekend valuing to end what he called separatist havoc in the eyes of the number of human rights organizations your security forces were responsible for at least part of that havoc you denied this against the video evidence broadcast by a number of mainstream broadcasting organizations around the world what did you base your denial on what i didn't deny i mean when i cited five so yes yes i mean on the basis of what of the fact that you know of the fact of the data that were made public after this supposedly excessive force i mean there's all the people but for form from the the government of catalonia at the t

in catalonia one story continues to dominate and on the ground the jailing of its former leaders and an arrest warrant for it to abscond the president is splitting opinion. when i start another it's a joke from someone who has fled the conflict. as a matter of democracy and no longer just a matter of independence but personally i think it's bad news for a government to have political prisoners and it can affect those of us who are in favor of independence. for catalonia as ousted leadership the route to independence has taken them here a jail awaiting the next stage of their inquisition over charges of rebellion. but i just i mean they are here know and they are fine but they are worried about their families in catalonia as well as in spain they are determined to move forward and hope for our support from the outside. but i was there most of them were. not among those jailed is this man catalans former president holed up in belgium that is. it is a grave attack on democracy. imprisoning political leaders who have ample citizen support is an act that violates the basic principle of de

freedom these mayors wanted for catalonia and for the region's next leaders now behind bars. it was a very a toast is the mayor of a small cut along village he joined his colleagues in brussels to say they want support from europe it's very difficult for us that the european commission is doing nothing catalonia is a very pro european country we see ourselves as part of the european family alongside berlin and paris. catalonia is ousted president carlos puts them on got a hero's welcome from the mayors gathered in brussels he too condemned the response in europe to his region's push for independence. is this the europe you want is this the europe you want to build a europe with a government in jail. a country without the right to choose its representatives in a democratic way. on himself could face up to thirty years in jail on charges of sedition and rebellion if belgium sends him back home to spain. pitched him on currently is in belgium on provisional release that means a number of conditions apply for instance he can't leave the country but it seems he can campaign and so

for a short while at least, the man who ultimately rules catalonia is now here in catalonia. mariano rajoy wants to use this, his visit, to strengthen the pro—spain camp. and this is what he is up against. libertad! chanting. on saturday, tens of thousands of pro—independence campaigners took to the streets. we are people who believe in peace, we are people who believe in freedom, we are people who believe in the republic. and we will keep going on and on and on till we reach our success. the two halves of catalonia, pro—independence and pro—spain, now begin a five—week campaign for their future. james reynolds, bbc news, barcelona. a developing story. a strong earthquake measuring 7.3 has hit the border area of northern iran and iraq killing dozens of people. it was close to a kurdish city. 61 people are confirmed dead in the west of the country. it was also felt in the capital, baghdad, and as far as israel and kuwait. more on that as soon as we get it. the lebanese politician, saad hariri, who resigned as prime minister in a shock announcement in saudi arabia, sa

i think so well we should remember just over a month ago there were two million people in catalonia voting for their own independent state during a referendum that later was declared illegal so these people have not simply changed their mind over the past weeks these are the people that we now see again on the streets of course alone are all the observers and journalists expect massive participation during the protest for today and so i think the political parties who reflect the views of these people certainly expect that they will increase or at least gain the same roads than they did in the last elections in two thousand and fifteen just remind our viewers that we are getting live pictures from catalonia where those demonstrations are happening but back to you michel with the ex leader colors put it on one currently fighting extradition in brussels has madrid won this round in the battle for catalonia as independence. madrid certainly won all the legal battles so far but that has been at the center of the criticism of many people actually i spoke to a judge yesterday who is the s

he recalled the region's referendum day and told alex salmond how he sees the future of catalonia. let it take you to that the that extraordinary day in the first of it talk or tell me what your emotions were that the in the one hand there was the celebration of. millions of your fellow country people coming out to exercise the vote for self-determination on the other hand was the the violence that we all saw on our television screens from the state police or what will the conflicting emotions that you felt as president of catalonia on that famous day there was a day of the victory of catalonia and the other hand of course there was a day of the extremely violent i couldn't imagine the the direction like that from the democratic state in the european union it was a tragic day today because i see directly the violence in the face school in my hometown there are a lot of injuries i was of injuries by the start of the next week the spanish judicial system or rolled into actual and took away the constitutional prize that catalonia had gained well this mistake in fact start a new era in

the but no country in the world recognizes the republic of catalonia. and the spanish government is imposing its authority on the region. it seems that since the order was given catalan separatists have been living in a parallel reality you know made the case that we've waited many many years for this moment one of the reasons i went into politics was to do something for my municipality but i also did it to establish a new republic and achieve independence for catalonia. back in santa pop there's agriculture and tourism here but no large companies that could decide to relocate elsewhere. the local carpenter shop has seen better days but that doesn't mean his letting him self be intimidated by threats or trade barriers he says pain is just a liability. first of all there's the corruption in spain and second people in the south and aloof and extreme adorer living off our tax payments. imports to us. in the afternoon there is just one topic of conversation in the religious problem locals are following the ousted president every move run television they say

we want the december twenty first election to bring back peace to catalonia we want to reestablish a democratic and free catalonia for everyone we will achieve this if the silent majority finds its voice and votes. the spanish leader can count on his party's support but many other catalans will not be holding welcome signs. the night before his arrival hundreds of thousands of independent ists took to the streets of barcelona to demonstrate again against the central government's hardline on catalan independence protesters demanded the release of separatist politicians who were jailed following last month's referendum but once again rai defended madrid's position. we did what any of our neighboring countries with some degree of self-respect would do. how would france or germany react if one of their regions called for an illegal independence referendum and declared that the constitution no longer apply there. addressing not only cuts alone here but the whole country in a holy war and everyone who challenges the spanish state will have to deal with moderates power but he'll have to wai

today he also said he welcomes snap elections in catalonia. does this mean he could also run in those elections at the same time being forced to testify in the case against him? martin: actually, yes. in fact, over the weekend, a spokesman said he would welcome puigdemont ring in the -- running again because he is still an mp. of course there are questions whether the fractious coalition will run as a coalition or individual parties. even if he were to be jailed, in theory -- nobody knows how any of this will work out. there is no precedents for this. it takes a while. his predecessor -- yes, all sorts of things nobody thought two months ago would be seeing in catalonia. puigdemont could certainly run again and who knows, he could even when. anything seems possible right now. brent: strange but true. martin and charlotte, to both of you, thank you very much. here in germany, the country's interior minister says police have prevented a serious terrorist attack. special forces arrested a 19-year-old syrian today. the suspect reportedly had conta

here in barcelona the battle over catalonia is independence has swung at least for now in favor of the spanish government madrid is in full control now of the region and there's been little or no sign of the democratic resistance but the separatists have been asking for my guest here is alfred bosch leader of the pro independence republican left on the city council here will he now admit that the movement has bitten off way more than it can chew. out for bush welcome to conflicts of thank you a new country has been born those were your words big words couple of days ago you spoke too soon didn't you. no because the republicans been proclaimed and now a newly born baby it's small it's fragile and we have to make it grow a baby from which the leaders have already fled to belgium to escape possible arrest that's hardly a glorious start to it is that well we might see again something we hadn't seen in europe for decades which is politicians looking for political asylum within europe so that development we should follow closely but that's going to jury a start to your to your republic as it

there demanding the release of jailed separatist leaders and former catalan ministers after catalonia as referendum madrid dismissed the region's government former ministers and separatists leaders were taken into custody on charges of sedition others fled to belgium including former catalan president. madrid has issued a european arrest warrant that could see him extradited to spain he says madrid is wrong to prosecute him and his former ministers. you know to be treated like a criminal like a drug trafficker like a pedophile like a serial killer i think this is abuse this isn't politics this is using the courts to do politics. has called on the european union to intervene. because of. the sort of the it is very disappointing to see that the european union that we're all part of they can respond to situations of poland and hungary but cannot respond to the situation in couple or near the stop or summit of the world. the situation came to a head on october the first as catalans went back to vote in what madrid called an illegal referendum they were met with scenes like these. many cat

for a short while at least, the man who ultimately rules catalonia is now here in catalonia. mariano rajoy wants to use this, his visit, to strengthen the pro—spain camp. and this is what he is up against. chanting. on saturday, tens of thousands of pro—independence campaigners took to the streets. we are people who believe in peace, we are people who believe in freedom, we are people who believe in the republic. and we will keep going on and on and on till we reach our success. the two halves of catalonia, pro—independence and pro—spain, now begin a five—week campaign for their future. james reynolds, bbc news, barcelona. the former prime minister of lebanon saad hariri has spoken publicly for the first time since his surprise resignation eight days ago, and has told a lebanese television station that he would be returning home from saudi arabia within days. mr hariri has denied he is being held against his will. he added he was aware he had not resigned in the usual way, but he wanted to give the country what he described as "a positive shock" to alert it to the d

now, taken toa government of catalonia. now, taken to a prison in madrid. they face serious charges, including rebellion against the spanish state. a judge denied them bail. as the news filtered through, their supporters gathered outside the regional parliament in barcelona. angry... and in shock. the government they elected now behind bars. can you believe it, in a democratic country, that these things happen? that we can go back to the dark times again? we don't understand. we are very, very sad, deeply sad, deeply sad, and terrified. it reads political prisoners. madrid argues it has no influence over today's decision taken in the courts, but these activists and people across catalonia are sympathetic to the cause, and they say that claim is absurd. they were summoned to the high court of spain because they organised a disputed referendum which led to a unilateral declaration of independence by their parties in the regional parliament. why are you here? their former leader, carles puidgemont, still in brussels, did not turn up to what he claims is a poli

many people across spain and here in catalonia are also outraged, but at catalonia's pro—independence politicians who have pushed things so far. she says they flouted spain's laws. she's so worried she might move abroad. so, a new chapter to this catalan crisis. and every day under the surface here, decisions more entrenched. tom burridge, bbc news, in barcelona. now, if you are a fan of the latest gadget then you can probably understand why these people in moscow are prepared to wait in the freezing cold so they can be amongst the first to own the latest offering from apple. it's the first chance people have to get their hands on the new apple iphone x and comes just hours after the company confirmed they'd made a profit of almost $11 billion in the three months up to the end of september. so can that success continue? caroline davies reports a bright new tech future is just over the horizon, well, that is what they will like you to think. around they will like you to think. around the world, devoted followers of apple are queueing up, braving the cold in russia, sleeping on the stre

we want the december twenty first election to bring back peace to catalonia we want to reestablish a democratic and free catalonia for everyone we will achieve this if the silent majority finds its voice and votes. the spanish leader can count on his party's support but many other catalans will not be holding welcome signs the night before his arrival hundreds of thousands of probing dependents protesters took to the streets of boston lono to demonstrate again against the central government's hardline on catalan secession they demanded the release of separatist politicians who were jailed following last month's referendum but once again defended moderates position. we did what any of our neighboring countries with some degree of self-respect would do. how would france or germany react if one of their regions called for an illegal independence referendum and declared that the constitution no longer apply their. view nor of addressing not only catalonia but the whole country the whole you warned everyone who challenges the spanish state will have to deal with moderates power but he'll

but no country in the world recognizes the republic of catalonia. and the spanish government is imposing its authority on the region. it seems that since that order was given, catalan separatists have been living in a parallel reality. josep: we've waited many, many years for this moment. one of the reasons i went into politics was to do something for my municipality -- but i also did it to establish a new republic and achieve independence for catalonia. reporter: back in santa pau, there's agriculture and tourism here, but no large companies that could decide to relocate elsewhere. the local carpenter shop has seen better days, but that doesn't mean salvador serra is letting himself be intimidated by threats of trade barriers. he says spain is just a liability. salvador: first of all, there's the corruption in spain. and second, people in the south in andalusia and extremadura are living off our tax payments. reporter: in the afternoon, there's just one topic of conversation in the village pub. locals are following the ousted president's every move

prime minister mariano rajoy is in catalonia he's in barcelona in the capital for the first time since direct rule was imposed on the region thousands of people turned out on saturday demanding the release of catalan leaders who were imprisoned while. speaking investigated for their role in last month's secession bid we can go live now to our correspondent joe holly's outside the venue where maria row holy is tell us what is he doing in the castle and capital. martin he's here ahead of the elections on december the twenty first that of course he called addressing in the hotel behind me here local members of his popular party here in catalonia including the candidate who will stand for the party in that election he's promised that the elections here in catalonia will in his words restore the rule of law in catalonia he's called for a massive turnout at the polls in the hope presumably that people traditionally against independents here who often don't vote in big numbers will turn out in big numbers now and prevent the pro independence parties from regaining their majority here is not a

and dacian that they have provoking catalonia but that's simply their own responsibility but the fact is that the catalan next president carlos approached them repeatedly and continually sought dialogue with your government turned to look he only sought a dialogue about the question of a referendum the date of a referendum and the date of liquor ration of unilateral independence all those things are totally impossible under the spanish constitution and for that matter and there are any constitution in the western world. minister is that true because in april twentieth he said publicly that if madrid agrees just to the existence of a problem between spain and catalonia and the knowledge of the problem and starting talks would send a positive sign. that. that's his opinion in any way i don't know what i said oh that's what he said but that's ok if you if you'll take what he says as the truth that's fine with me but as for nothing more illegal or nothing more seditious than roads then negotiation and dialogue that could give expression to the aspirations of the majority that's what and i

from his place of exile at the heart of europe catalonia used to post lead a kind of he's using every platform he can to issue an election call to arms the word independence hardly appears. spain has carried out a coup d'etat against the legitimate government our colleagues who are now in prison have been subject to mao treatment by the spanish authorities and spain must now respond to international justice. the change of tone reflects how much and how fast things have changed for the independence movement probably in the bend and it's going to have a secondary role i mean this doesn't mean that people are going to forget what happened the last month but at the same time in the minds of the politicians are now. we are starting to think about this process as something that you need more time in other to to make the underpinnings of the neo con trip that new country now under the thumb of central government the independent republic i proclaim less than two weeks ago has been stamped out the most urgent task now lifting direct rule by madrid restoring catalonia is autonomy before decidin

in the summertime to catalonia now where on saturday rival crowds marched in barcelona and made deep divisions over the region's independence movement thousands took part in a unionist march under the catalonia is spain is the latest in a series of pro unity rally since last month's referendum which was branded illegal by the spanish government meanwhile a group of pro independence activists gathered denouncing madrid's crackdown on the movement. so in his new show here on c former scottish first minister alex salmond spoke exclusively to be ousted cattle and president carter's boojum order was sucked in october and is now facing charges of sedition and rebellion spain issued an international arrest warrant after he fled to belgium where he is currently on bail on friday a belgian court delayed till next month his decision on whether to extradite puja monton for other members of his former government to madrid and speaking to r t he recalled the region's referendum day and told alex diamond how he sees the future of catalonia. let me take you to that the that extraordinary day in the

for the moment in catalonia in spain. you know this minute good day and he's trying to look like a president who fled the country after a coup when in reality he was the one who staged a coup for the locus of all this is. also coming up on this how we the happy and haunted u.s. president today donald trump had plenty of smiles and goodies and plenty of smiles and goodies i should say for trick or treaters outside the white house but for the reporters inside the president offered no treats and no one. answers. thank you thank you. thank you thank you very much. thank you. thank you very much. we begin the day with a former president on the run who says he's not today a spanish chord subpoenaed carlist put him on the alstad president of the spanish region catalonia but mr bridges was nowhere in spain to be found earlier today he appeared before reporters and cameras in brussels now the whereabouts of mr burrage to ma and several members of his deposed cabinet had been unclear following some unprecedented moves on friday by

strategy what that strategy is in the catalonia crisis. as former european council president the european union so far treats the crisis of catalonia as an internal matter of a european member state can the european union can brussels keep that defensive line because the european union is respecting the rule of law. in spain the referendum was considered by the supreme court as illegal. the unilateral declaration of independence was considered by the supreme court supreme court as illegal and we have to respect let's say not only the independence of spain the depends of the additional in spain we have to respect the rule of law as long as the rule of law is not violated the european union has nope role to play and you always have to be very cautious and i'm speaking no as a belgian. interfering in domestic politics we had a crisis of five hundred forty one days it was a major crisis it was about the future of the country. we solved the problem after one year and a half without any mediation without any intervention of the european union we

their own state and to go on the streets and make their voice heard now catalonia is excellent but someone is fighting extradition in brussels does this mean that madrid has won this round in the battle of catalonia is independence. well no dritte so far has used very much the you dish or e to solve the cartel and problem i have spoken to a judge yesterday actually complained about that a political question is now being solved or is tried to be solved by the judges as we know there are many ex leaders regional politicians in prison eight of them and that's a by the way one of the main reasons why the protest today in barcelona will be so massive because people demand these supposed to sions their leaders to be freed so in some to some respect the central government has won the round because they have won all the legal decisions so far but the political issue in catalonia itself is not solved by that. now we do know that the catalan parliament speaker for saddle was released from prison just yesterday had she made an appearance of these protests and she said anything. she has been actually

he recalled the region's referendum day and told alex salmond how he sees the future of catalonia. let me take you to that the that extraordinary day in the first of october tell me what your emotions were that the in the one hand there was the celebration of. millions of your fellow country people coming out to exercise the vote for self-determination on the other hand was that the violence that we all saw on our television screens from the state police or what will the conflicting emotions that you felt as president of catalonia when that famous day there was a day of the victory of catalonia and the other hand of course there was a day of the extent that i couldn't imagine the will start coming rapidly because in this kind of possible there is no future at all and to remain in spain these conditions what is your message to the people of catalonia we must to be confident resilient because we will we. will succeed finally democracy will prevail. and still plenty of the weekly coming your way here on r.t. international including the story of france where the streets of paris throng

turmoil continues in spain as the fight for independence in catalonia continues. mass protests have become a familiar sight in barcelona in recent weeks. pro-independence supporters are furious at the central government in madrid for its attempt to reassert control over their region. spain is on the brink. on one side is catalonia, the autonomous region in the northeast, whose recent referendum called for independence. on the other is the country's central government in madrid, that plans to strip catalonia of its powers. while the spanish prime minister initially had the support of the so-called silent majority, it seems his aggressive stance has backfired. now some once pro-unity catalans, like maria vallverdoo, are in favor of secession. reporter: everywhere she turns, the crisis is in evidence. maria vallverdu guides a tour group through barcelona's old town, where catalan history and the current political upheaval appear to vie for attention. protest banners and flags hang from buildings where normally only laundry is strung out to dry. like many locals, the

news live from berlin tonight catalonia and spain and a question for the european union how much longer will europe ignore the crisis the alst of cattle on president carlist which to mark makes an unexpected public appearance in brussels he speaks at a rally of pro independence got a lot of mayors demanding action from european politicians we'll take you live to brussels also coming up the syrian delegate at the u.n. climate conference indicates his country will sign up to the paris climate accord that would leave the u.s. as the only u.n. member not supporting it we'll explore what the fallout could be and saudi arabia's crown prince accuses iran of an act of direct military aggression claims iran supplies rebels in yemen with a missile that was fired towards riaz made airports over the weekend. i'm bringing off it's good to have you with us tonight alstad cattle on leader karl has put him on has made a surprise appearance not in spain but at a rally in brussels it's his first since answering a spanish arrest warrant which demat was cheered by around two hundred mayors from catalan com