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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 22 OcTOber 2019

Catalan head says only talks can stop protests

By JOSEPH WILSON He also called on Torra, a
Associated Press fervent separatist whom
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) critics accuse of expressing
— Catalonia's leader said xenophobic ideas about
Monday that the recent Spaniards, to firmly con-
massive protests in the re- demn violence and to en-
gion, which often spiraled sure the security and rights
into violent clashes with of the roughly one half of
police, won't cease until Catalonia's 7.5 million resi-
the Spanish government dents who want to remain
agrees to listen to separat- part of Spain.
ists' demands. Torra has repeatedly called
"If we don't sit down to talk for "dialogue without con-
this won't stop," Catalan re- ditions," trying to pave the
gional president Quim Torra way for Catalonia to have
told The Associated Press, an authorized and binding
in an interview at the medi- vote on secession, despite
eval palace in central Bar- Spanish governments re-
celona that houses the res- jecting such talks.
tive region's government. Sánchez says a referendum
He spoke after a week of would require changing
huge peaceful protests — the country's constitution,
many followed by ugly riots which requires a very wide
in Spain's second biggest Catalan pro-independence protesters demonstrate outside the building of the Government majority in the national par-
city and other northeast- Delegation in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, in downtown Barcelona, Spain Monday, liament.
ern towns — by people an- Oct. 21, 2019. Small crowds followed
gered by the sentencing of Associated Press Sánchez on Monday to
nine leaders of their move- oline bombs, acid, chunks tional election on Nov. 10 which we condemn and the police headquarters
ment to prison for their role of pavement and other in which the Catalan issue reject (...) cannot be an in Barcelona, which are
in a 2017 secession bid. weapons to assault police. will be front and center, for excuse to not sit down and often the target of violent
The street battles over five Even though the violence not agreeing to meet him talk, and for Sánchez to not protesters, and a hospital
consecutive nights be- has waned in the past two when he visited Barcelona answer phone calls from where a group of doctors
tween radicals and police days, authorities are con- to see injured police offi- the president of Catalonia," and nurses shouted at the
left 593 injured — nearly cerned it could flare back cers on Monday before re- Torra said. prime minister "Freedom for
half of them police — and up. turning to Madrid. Ahead of his visit, Sánchez political prisoners!" and "Go
resulted in 194 arrests. Torra criticized interim "(These) violent groups, accused Torra in a letter of away, go away!" accord-
Protesters burned hundreds Prime Minister Pedro Sán- which have caused scenes failing in his duty to protect ing to videos that quickly
of trash bins and used gas- chez, who is facing a na- that disgust us greatly, his citizens. spread on social media.q

N Ireland laws on abortion, same-sex

marriage, set to change

By DANICA KIRKA the U.K. government will healthcare will be brought
Associated Press take responsibility for put- to an end," she said. "Final-
LONDON (AP) — Northern ting regulations in place ly, our rights and our health-
Ireland is set to decriminal- to provide access to termi- care are being brought
ize abortion and set the nations. Women will be of- into the 21st century."
stage for legalization of fered free transportation to But Democratic Unionist
same-sex marriages as of obtain abortion services in Party leader Arlene Foster
midnight Monday, bringing England in the meantime. said that the law change
its laws in line with the rest Grainne Teggart of Am- would not mark the end of
of the U.K. nesty International said the legal efforts to prevent the Pro-choice activists take part in a photo call in the grounds of
This is happening because change would make the introduction of abortion Stormont Parliament, Belfast, Monday Oct. 21, 2019.
British lawmakers voted last system more "compassion- services in Northern Ireland. Associated Press
year in favor of changing ate." She said the party would riage will become legal in dispute between the ma-
these laws if Northern Ire- "From midnight tonight his- explore legal options January. Northern Ireland's jor Protestant and Catholic
land's government wasn't tory will be made, these "This is not a day of cel- government has been sus- parties, leaving Britain's Par-
up and running by Oct. 21. oppressive laws that have ebration for the unborn," pended for more than two- liament to make some key
Under the new measures, policed our bodies and our she said. Same-sex mar- and-a-half years amid a decisions. q