The Catalan regional parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, just as the Spanish government appears set to impose direct rule.<br/><br/>The move was backed 70-10 in a ballot boycotted by opposition MPs.<br/><br/>Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy earlier told senators that direct rule was needed to return "law, democracy and stability" to Catalonia.<br/><br/>The crisis began when Catalans backed independence in a disputed vote earlier this month.<br/><br/>The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part in the referendum, 90% were in favour of independence. But Spain's Constitutional Court had ruled the vote illegal.<br/><br/>In all, the motion declaring independence was approved with 70 in favour, 10 against and two abstentions in the 135-seat chamber.<br/><br/>Immediately afterwards, Mr Rajoy called for all Spaniards to remain calm, promising to "restore legality" to Catalonia.<br/><br/>Spain's Senate is still to vote on whether for the first time to enact Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which empowers the government to take "all measures necessary to compel" a region in case of a crisis.<br/><br/>It would enable Madrid to fire Catalan leaders, and take control of the region's finances, police and public media.

Catalonia's Parliament today voted to declare independence from Spain and proclaim a republic, just as Madrid is poised to impose direct rule on the semi-autonomous region to stop it in its tracks. <br/><br/>A motion declaring independence was approved with 70 votes in favour, 10 against and two abstentions, with Catalan opposition MPs walking out of the 135-seat chamber before the vote in protest at a declaration unlikely to be given official recognition by Madrid and abroad.