Barcelona rocked by violence on fifth day of separatist protests

Demonstrators march on Meridiana Avenue during Catalonia's general strike in Barcelona, Spain, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Albert Gea

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters battled police in the heart of Barcelona on Friday, setting up fiery barricades and hurling rocks at security forces on the fifth day of unrest following the jailing of Catalan separatist leaders.

The violence followed a largely peaceful demonstration which drew more than half a million people onto the streets of the Catalan capital to denounce the lengthy jail terms that have sent a shockwave through Spanish politics.