Catalan crisis: Spain's Rajoy vows to end 'separatist havoc'

    Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said regional elections next month in Catalonia will help end "separatist havoc" in the north-eastern region.

   He addressed a campaign event on his first visit there since imposing direct rule on the region a fortnight ago.

   Defending his decision in Barcelona, he said he had "exhausted all roads" after the Catalan government's unilateral declaration of independence last month. Several key Catalan leaders are currently being detained over the move. Local police estimated that some 750,000 people protested in Barcelona on Saturday against the arrests.