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Catalan independence rally draws crowds in Barcelona | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Hundreds of thousands of Catalans rallied in Barcelona on Friday to show support for independence from Spain. | |
Local police said 1.4 million people turned out but the Spanish government put the figure at no more than 550,000. | |
A separatist coalition of parties is leading the polls ahead of Catalonia's regional elections this month. | A separatist coalition of parties is leading the polls ahead of Catalonia's regional elections this month. |
The Together For Yes campaign says if it wins a majority in the regional assembly it will push through plans for an independent Catalan state. | The Together For Yes campaign says if it wins a majority in the regional assembly it will push through plans for an independent Catalan state. |
But the Spanish government has promised to block any move to break away. Madrid said an unofficial Catalan referendum last November was invalid. | But the Spanish government has promised to block any move to break away. Madrid said an unofficial Catalan referendum last November was invalid. |
The November poll saw 80% of voters back independence but turnout was just 40%. | The November poll saw 80% of voters back independence but turnout was just 40%. |
Together for Yes kicked off its campaign late on Thursday night ahead of the rally on Friday, when Catalans celebrate their national day. | |
The coalition comprises political groups from both the left and right, who have come together in the face of continued Madrid government opposition to a referendum. | The coalition comprises political groups from both the left and right, who have come together in the face of continued Madrid government opposition to a referendum. |
One of those marching on Friday said it was a "definitive" year. | |
"The goal is to become independent, because we're suffocating - economically and emotionally," Silvia Palomares told Reuters. | |
Polls suggests a majority of Catalans favour a referendum on independence but are evenly divided over whether they want to secede. | |
The Spanish government says it will block any unilateral declaration of independence, reports the BBC's Tom Burridge in Barcelona. | The Spanish government says it will block any unilateral declaration of independence, reports the BBC's Tom Burridge in Barcelona. |
Such a move would be unprecedented in the history of the European Union, our correspondent adds. | Such a move would be unprecedented in the history of the European Union, our correspondent adds. |