A pro independence supporter holds up an ''estelada'' or Catalan pro independence flag during a rally in support of the Catalonia's secession from Spain, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. Spain's celebrates its national day amid one of the country's biggest crises ever as its powerful northeastern region of Catalonia threatens independence.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
The Associated Press
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - One of Catalonia's top separatist leaders pushing for a break from Spain has called for unity as disputes over strategy threaten to split the secessionists.
Oriol Junqueras, Catalonia's regional vice president and head of the Republican Left party, says Saturday "we must preserve the unity that is necessary to go all the way on this path to a republic."
The leaders of the prosperous northeastern region of 7.5 million people want to leave Spain.
Fissures have appeared among Catalan separatists ever since regional President Carles Puigdemont announced Tuesday that he was delaying an outright declaration of independence "for a few weeks" to give talks with Spain's central government in Madrid a chance.
The far-left party CUP and a grassroots secessionist group have both asked Puigdemont not to wait any longer.
Pro independence supports hold up an ''estelada'' or Catalan pro independence flag beside an ''Ikurrina'' of Basque flag, right, during a rally in support of the Catalonia's secession from Spain, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. Spain's celebrates its national day amid one of the country's biggest crises ever as its powerful northeastern region of Catalonia threatens independence.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
The Associated Press
Pro independence supporters hold up an ''estelada'' or Catalan pro independence flag during a rally in support of the Catalonia's secession from Spain, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. Spain's celebrates its national day amid one of the country's biggest crises ever as its powerful northeastern region of Catalonia threatens independence.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
The Associated Press
Two men, one wearing a Spanish flag, left, and the other wearing an estelada' or independence flag, talk during the celebration of a holiday known as "Dia de la Hispanidad" or Spain's National Day, in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. Spain's celebrates its national day amid one of the country's biggest crises ever as its powerful northeastern region of Catalonia threatens independence. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)
The Associated Press
A pro independence supporter holds up an ''estelada'' or Catalan pro independence flag during a rally in support of the Catalonia's secession from Spain, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. Spain's celebrates its national day amid one of the country's biggest crises ever as its powerful northeastern region of Catalonia threatens independence. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
The Associated Press
A pro independence supporters holds up an ''estelada'' or Catalan pro independence flag during a rally in support of the Catalonia's secession from Spain, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. Spain's celebrates its national day amid one of the country's biggest crises ever as its powerful northeastern region of Catalonia threatens independence. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
The Associated Press