THE president of Catalonia called for "democratic opposition" as Spain attempts to take control of the newly declared republic.
Carles Puigdemont gave a televised address at 2:30pm local time, and responded to the latest measures taken by Mariano Rajoy's Spanish government.
Puigdemont said in a brief statement that appeared to be pre-recorded that "we will continue working to build a free country".
Rajoy has sacked the Catalan Cabinet using powers approved yesterday, but Puigdemont said he still had the democratic mandate to stay in power.
Puigdemont described yesterday's independence declaration as a "historic day" that fulfilled what Catalans had voted for on September 27, 2015, in its regional election.
He said: "Yesterday, the Spanish Council of Ministers came to an agreement to remove the entire government of Catalonia – to take over our self-government and to dissolve our Parliament.
"These are actions contrary to the expressed will of the citizens of our country, who know perfectly well that in a democracy it is parliaments that choose, or remove, presidents.
"Nevertheless, during these first hours, citizens have understood that the era we have begun must be defended with an untiring sense of civic and peaceful duty. Your reaction is that of a mature country that knows what it wants and how to get it.
"Let us not veer from that path. Let us persevere with the only attitude that can win, without violence, without insults, inclusively, respecting people, symbols, and opinions, including protests by Catalans who do not agree with what the Parliamentary majority decided.
"Our desire is to work to fulfill the democratic mandates and at the same time seek maximum stability and calmness, understanding at the same time the difficulties that such an era brings, that our country has never before experienced.
"Let's persevere, be patient and have perspective. The best way to defend what we've achieved so far is with democratic opposition to the application of Article 155.
"We must do so by keeping ourselves from repression and threats, without ever abandoning our civil, peaceful conduct. We don't have nor wish to be right by force.
"We will continue to work to build a free country, to guarantee a society with fewer injustices, more equality, more solidarity, and more fraternity with all of the peoples of the world, starting with Spain, with whom we wish to be connected through mutual respect and familiarity.
"Thank you very much. Long live Catalonia."
Puigdemont's appearance saw him speaking from a podium with the official emblem of the Catalan government. Behind him there were the Catalan and European Union flags, but not the one from Spain.
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