Catalan separatists take to streets ahead of vote

Up to a million Catalan separatists rallied yesterday to demand their region break away from Spain, three weeks ahead of an independence referendum that has been banned by Madrid. Draped in separatist flags, they marched through Barcelona in what they hope will be their last march before independence. Thousands of people had signed up to join the demonstration, which coincided with Catalonia’s national day, the “Diada”.