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Catalan Authorities Call for Rally in Support of Independence Referendum

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Catalan National Assembly (ANC) has called on secessionists in the region to take to the streets protesting against Spanish Constitutional Court's decision to suspend the independence referendum in Catalonia, ANC President Carme Forcadell said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW, September 30 (RIA Novosti) - Catalan National Assembly (ANC) has called on secessionists in the region to take to the streets protesting against Spanish Constitutional Court's decision to suspend the independence referendum in Catalonia, ANC President Carme Forcadell said on Tuesday.

"Today at 7 p.m. in front of all municipalities, the Constitutional Court does not make decision for us. We are sovereign, we want independence," Forcadell said on his Twitter account.

On September 27, Catalan leader Artur Mas signed a decree scheduling the referendum on Catalonia's independence for November 9. On September 29, the Spanish government announced its plans to appeal against the decree before the Constitutional Court, suspending the referendum.

Right after the Scottish independence referendum on September 18, Mas said Catalonia felt encouraged by the "UK's lesson in democracy." Even though Scotland voted to remain part of the UK, it was the choice Scots made themselves, the Catalan leader stressed.

Mas has expressed his determination to go ahead with the referendum, regardless of what the Spanish government may do to hamper it. Should Spanish authorities attempt to hinder the vote, Mas said he was ready to call new elections by 2016 at the latest, which will become a referendum on independence.

Catalan secessionists have been accusing the Spanish government of draining the region of tax revenues and constraining its linguistic and cultural autonomy. Madrid, however, claims Catalonia benefits from the union with Spain and enjoys a wide autonomy.

During the planned referendum the Catalans would face two questions: whether they want Catalonia to become a state, and if yes, whether they want this state to be independent.

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