Several hundred people staged protests in central Madrid in favor of Spanish unity and against the pro-independence referendum authorities in northeastern Catalonia were trying to hold.

Some 300 people gathered yesterday in the city's Plaza Mayor square, waving Spanish red and yellow flags and chanting slogans in favor of Spanish unity. Half the crowd then moved to Madrid's emblematic Sol square and staged a second rally in front of the regional government's headquarters.

The protesters applauded police standing guard outside the building in a show of support for Spain's security forces. Major anti-independence protests took place in cities across Spain, including Catalonia, on Saturday.