Pro-unity Catalans rally to reject declaration of independence from Spain br br Pro-unity forces staged a massive display of support for Spanish unity in the streets of Barcelona on Sunday, less than 48 hours after a declaration of independence in Catalonia’s parliament that has plunged Spain into its deepest crisis of the modern era. br br The rally came as a Spanish government spokesman said that the sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont would be "welcome" to stand in snap elections slated for December. br br Three weeks ago the anti-independence Catalan Civil Society platform brought 350,000 people onto the streets of central Barcelona to reject the plans of the now-deposed Mr Puigdemont to proclaim an independent republic.