Hundreds of thousands rally in Barcelona for Spain unity

MADRID, Oct 29 (KUNA) -- Hundreds of thousands who stressed the unity of Spain and the need to restore the coexistence of all members of the Catalan society, rallied in downtown Barcelona on Sunday.
"We are all Catalonia, Common sense for coexistence" rally was the first after the Catalan president declared independence on Friday, said the Spanish TV.
Rally organizers Societat Civil Catalana, the leading pro-union grassroots group said over one million people turned out for the march, although local police expected to reduce that number to several hundred thousand later.
Leaders of rival pro-union parties from the ruling conservatives, the pro-business liberals and the socialists have joined together the rally, organizer said.
The demonstration was the second mass demonstration in the Catalan capital Barcelona in recent weeks to express a rejection of independence, where a mass rally took place on October 8 following the referendum held earlier this month.
The demonstration comes after Madrid saw a similar rally in which thousands of people participated under the slogan "We are all Spanish" on Saturday.
On Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced the implementation of tough constitutional measures in response to a unilateral declaration by the president of the province, Carles Puigdemont.
After the dismissal of the regional president and members of his government and Madrid government takes control of the territory, Madrid plans to organize regional elections on December 21, although the road is still danger, especially because of fears of civil disobedience in a territory inhabited by more than two million separatists. (end) hnd.ss