DHAKA: The Spanish Interior Minister, Jorge Fernandez Diaz, has refused to resign after leaked tapes came out to link him to efforts to spread separatist politicians in Catalonia.

The audio appears to feature Diaz and Catalonia's top anti-fraud official discussing ways to discredit pro-independence parties, BBC reports on Thursday (June 23).

The recordings were reportedly made two years ago when Catalonia held a referendum on independence from Spain.

However, Spain votes in elections on Sunday.

Polls suggested Diaz's conservative Popular Party (PP) is expected to win the biggest share of the vote but not enough to form an overall majority.

Opposition party leaders are among those who have called for him to resign, following publication of the tapes by the Publico website. 

Hundreds of protesters, many carrying Catalan independence flags, staged a demonstration in the regional capital Barcelona on Wednesday evening, calling for Diaz to go.

BDST: 0844 HRS, June 23, 2016
SAS/AKA