French riot police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of Spanish protesters gathered on the highway between the two countries.

French riot police this morning were dispatched to the La Jonquera border area, where hundreds of pro-independence protesters for Catalonia were blocking the AP-7 highway connecting the two countries for nearly 24 hours. They used pepper spray to push protesters back to the Spanish border.

Earlier, the vehicles had to divert to a small road when the protesters set up a high barrier of AP-7 highway and set up the stage in the middle of the road.

When asked what Catalonia police should do with protesters pushed back from the border with France, government leader Quim Torra said there was no reason to prosecute them. "We require these activities to be done with care so that no one is hurt," Torra said today.

Demonstrations in Spain erupted in the middle of last month, after nine former Catalonia leaders were sentenced to 9-13 years in prison for inciting rebellion and misusing public funds after their efforts to secede. failed.

Catalonia in 2017 solicited a referendum on its separation from Spain, which was considered unconstitutional by Madrid. The central Spanish government later dispersed the government of the former Premier Puigdemont, suspending Catalonia's autonomy to hold regional elections.