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             Catalonia Holds Informal Vote on Secession From Spain

   by VOA News

   Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia is holding a symbolic
   referendum Sunday on independence.

   Spain's Constitutional Court on Tuesday ordered Catalonia to suspend
   the vote. However, Catalonia is pushing ahead with an informal vote
   with thousands of volunteers manning the voting stations.

   Opinion polls indicate as many as 80 percent of the 7.5 million people
   in the region want more autonomy from Spain, with about 50 percent in
   favor of complete independence.

   Catalonia is one of Spain's wealthiest regions.  Its long-standing
   desire for independence has been fueled more recently by the country's
   deep recession over the past few years.

   Material for this report came from AP and Reuters.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/catalonia-holds-informal-vote-on-sece
   ssion-from-spain/2513697.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/catalonia-holds-informal-vote-on-secession-from-spain/2513697.html