French police push back Catalan highway protesters
They'd blocked a major road connecting Spanish Catalonia with France for nearly 24 hours.
But hundreds of pro-independence Catalans were eventually dispersed by police on Tuesday (November 12), who pushed them back to the Spanish side and cleared debris from the highway, which they'd blockaded in both directions.
The campaign for independence for the northern Spanish region has been mostly peaceful for years.
But since long jail sentences were handed down to Catalan separatist leaders in October, protests have stepped up, and some have turned violent.
This was a boost for the movement on Tuesday - an adviser to the European Court of Justice said one of the jailed leaders could seek immunity.
That's because Oriol Junqueras was a member of the European Parliament when he was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
The parliament doesn't have to act on the advice, but is likely to decide whether to uphold or waive Junqeras's immunity in the next few months.
The nine jailed leaders spearheaded a failed independence drive in 2017.
Spain's election this week could signal tough times ahead though.
A tentative left-wing coalition has been formed - but the vote saw an increase in support for Vox, a far-right party that takes a hardline on Catalan independence.
