http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41191327 [bbc.com]
Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy says he will ask the courts to revoke a law passed by the Catalan regional government to hold a referendum on independence.
He described the vote, planned for 1 October, as illegal.
Earlier, state prosecutors said they would bring criminal charges against Catalan leaders for their endorsement of the referendum.
The pro-independence majority in Catalonia's parliament passed the referendum law on Wednesday.
Spain's wealthy north-eastern region already has autonomous powers but the regional government says it has popular support for full secession.