Catalonia crisis: Thousands rally in Barcelona for Spanish unity
- Published
Some 80,000 people have turned out in Barcelona, the regional capital of Catalonia, in a show of support for Spain after the recent separatist unrest.
Supporters of Catalonia as part of Spain marched through the city a day after a separatist rally drew 350,000 people.
Giant Spanish flags were carried by the demonstrators.
A crowd of 80,000 stretched down the city's Passeig de Gracia avenue.
This demonstrator wore a tee-shirt mocking exiled separatist leader Cares Puigdemont as a baby.
Placards written in Catalan read "Never break up" and "We are Catalonia, we are Spain".
A recent authoritative survey, by the region's Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió, suggested more people in Catalonia oppose independence than support it.
This demonstrator dressed her hair patriotically.
Leaders of some of Spain's national political parties joined Sunday's rally, including Pablo Casado of the Popular Party.
Ciudadanos (Citizens) leader Albert Rivera was also on hand.
While the pro-Spanish rally appeared to be passing off peacefully, in the city's Sant Jaume Square, police kept unionist and separatist demonstrators apart.
Pictures from Reuters, AFP and EPA.