Mas

Catalan separatists hold a mass rally on Sept.11 for independence that will kick off campaigning for a regional election billed as a de facto referendum on breaking away from Spain.

Catalan government head Artur Mas has voiced his intention to call early elections as a step toward gaining independence from Spain.

Mas told a 3000-strong multitude at a conference in Barcelona he believed this was "the only instrument" allowing Catalans to decide on their future as a nation, Spanish daily El País quotes him as saying.

Catalonia: "Informal vote" instead of referendum

BARCELONA -- The Catalans have postponed their referendum on independence scheduled for November 9, and will instead on that day "hold an informal vote."

The president of the Spanish region of Catalonia, Artur Mas, signed a decree calling for a referendum on independence to be held on November 9.

The central Spanish government, however, is resisting the idea and Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy said he will block any referendum.