Catalonia's deposed leader Carles Puigdemont has called for “democratic opposition” from supporters on Saturday in response to the Spanish government’s takeover of the region. 

“It's very clear that the best form of defending the gains made up until now is democratic opposition to Article 155,” said Puigdemont in a TV broadcast address.

Puigdemont was referring to the constitutional article that offers Madrid the power to take over any Spanish region, adding he and his team would keep working "to build a free country."

Madrid has officially taken over the regional government and dismissed Puigdemont, as well as all other government members from the region earlier on Saturday.

The control of Catalonia has now been handed to Spain’s deputy Prime Minister after Madrid imposed direct rule on the region following Catalonia’s independence declaration on Friday.

Meanwhile, thousands of people rally in the Plaza de Colon in central Madrid, many waving or wearing Spanish flags and shouting "Prison for Puigdemont."

"Today, we have all come to demonstrate our unity, to proclaim that we will get Catalonia back," one presenter told the crowd, adding that "We won't stop until we see them in jail."

Many also voiced their anger at Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, saying he has been too soft on the region's leaders.

"It is a disgrace what happened in Catalonia, and it's a disgrace what happened after," said Carlos Fernandez, a 41-year-old mining engineer.

Jorge Marin, a 38-year-old engineer, said: "In the end, this is going to come to nothing."

"The Catalans aren't serious, and we're not serious, because they're not really getting independence, and we're not going to put them in prison for what they're doing."

In an effort to avoid possible further conflicts, Catalonia's police force told its officers not to take sides and to remain neutral amid the spiraling tensions between the region and Madrid.

The Catalan police force is riven by distrust between those for and against independence and is estranged from Spain’s national police forces, Mossos and national officers told Reuters.

"Given that there is likely to be an increase in gatherings and rallies of citizens in all the territory and that there are people of different thoughts, we must remember that it is our responsibility to guarantee the security of all and help these to take place without incident,” said an internal note seen by Reuters.

Some European countries as well as the US and Mexico rejected the Catalonia's independence declaration and expressed support for Spanish government.

The leaders of the European Union believe the bloc will face more splits after Catalonia's declaration of independence. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he would not want the 28-member EU to "consist of 95 states." European Council President Donald Tusk stresses that the Spanish government remains "the only interlocutor of the group," adding that he hopes "Madrid favors force of argument, not argument of force."

Brussels has been insisting the event is an internal matter while opposing Catalan's efforts for international mediation. Meanwhile, Britain, the US and Mexico have taken a clear-cut stand, saying they would not recognize the Catalan regional parliament's decision.

(Top image file photo)