Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has attacked Spain's King Felipe VI for "deliberately ignoring millions of Catalans".

In a TV address, Mr Puigdemont accused the king of adopting the Spanish government's position.


"This moment calls for mediation," he said. He has indicated that Catalonia could declare independence next week.


King Felipe made his own TV address on Tuesday night, calling Sunday's Catalan referendum illegal and undemocratic.


Twenty-four hours later, Mr Puigdemont claimed that the king had rejected a moderating role granted to him by the Spanish constitution.
In response, the Spanish government in Madrid said it would not accept "blackmail" from the Catalan leader.


Mr Puigdemont must return to the path of law before any negotiation could take place, it said said in a statement (in Spanish).


His criticism of the king showed that he was "out of touch with reality," it added.




BBC       News.