Pro-Catalonia independence supporters have held several rallies to protest against Sunday’s police crackdown. Officers, many of them drafted in from other areas of Spain, had used rubber bullets and batons to try and disrupt their independence referendum.

Results have shown that those who voted had overwhelmingly backed splitting from Spain. Catalonia’s leader has called for national police officers in the region to leave and for Madrid to recognise the referendum result.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has since met national party leaders saying he is committed to seeking a joint response to the “pro-independence” challenge in Catalonia.

But time is of the essence for Rajoy. Some separatists in Catalonia’s parliament want to see a unilateral declaration of independence within days.

Rajoy does have the constitutional power to sack the assembly but such a move could inflame the crisis.

In the meantime there’s to be a general strike in Spain’s wealthiest region ostensibly in protest against the police action. But two of the main unions have backed down saying a strike will only further polarise the political situation.