Protests hit Barcelona amid Spanish Cabinet meeting

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) - Pro-independence protests over the Spanish cabinet meeting in the capital of Catalonia paralyzed the city life in Barcelona, local media reported on Friday.

Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that at least seven people were arrested during clashes between police and protesters in the city.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, is being held under “independence” slogans.

Around 9,000 security forces were deployed to Barcelona ahead of the Cabinet meeting.

The protests come after a call by the Committees for the Defense of the Republic, a pro-independence protest group.

The protesters began demonstrating early in the morning by blocking main roads and setting tires on fire.

Around 1,000 Barcelona connected train services were canceled because of the strikes. Some passengers arrived at Barcelona El Prat Airport 12-15 hours earlier than scheduled time.

On Thursday, Sanchez met with Catalan leader Quim Torra and vowed for “effective dialogue”, to solve the political crisis.

According to El Pais, Sanchez’s decision to hold a Cabinet meeting in Barcelona is seen as “provocation” by pro-independence groups as the date coincides with the first anniversary of Dec. 21 regional elections called by the central government after Catalan powers were suspended.

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont led a parliamentary session last year that saw separatist lawmakers vote for the region of Catalonia to declare independence from Spain.

Puigdemont and 12 other separatist leaders were officially charged with rebellion.