Spain warns Catalonia on self-rule as deadline looms

Spain will move to suspend Catalonia's autonomy unless the region's leader drops his push for independence, the deputy prime minister says.

Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría gave the warning a day before a Spanish deadline to Carles Puigdemont was due to expire.

Catalonia's government has insisted it will not meet Madrid's demands in the wake of a disputed vote on secession. There have been protests over the detention of two leaders of the separatist movement.

Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart are being held while they are investigated for sedition - a move which many on the pro-independence side see as politically motivated.

The men were leading figures in the 1 October independence vote, which Madrid branded illegal.

UCJ, UNILORIN.