Spain remains on a knife-edge as tensions between both sides continue to grow, with brawls already having broken out in Barcelona last night

CATALAN'S deposed leader has seemingly refused to concede he had been sacked as he called for calm in Spain as the country teeters on the brink of its worst political crisis in four decades.

As the Spanish government held its first meeting to discuss their new roles since imposing direct rule over Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont instead promised to continue to build a "free country", and called for "democratic opposition" to Madrid.

The Spanish government held its first meeting since imposing direct rule over Catalonia this morning