'Catalans' form human chain for independence from Spain Wed Sep 11,2013

Supporters of Catalonia's independence from Spain have joined hands to form a 400km (250-mile) human chain across the region in support of their cause.

Hundreds of thousands of people took part in the event, which comes on Catalonia's national day.
Regional President Artur Mas has been urging Madrid to allow the region a referendum on independence in 2014.

But he has been unable to get the central government's approval for such a vote in the north-eastern region.

About Catalonia

Catalonia has been part of Spain since its genesis in the 15th century, when King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile married and united their realms

When Spain became a republic in 1931, an autonomous Catalan regional government, the Generalitat, is created under the leadership of the Revolutionary Left of Catalonia.

In 1979 Catalonia given a statute of autonomy and recognised as a "nationality". Catalan become the joint official language of Catalonia with Spanish.

In 1980 Centre-right moderate nationalist Convergence and Union wins first elections to the new regional parliament. Its leader, Jordi Pujol, becomes the first president of the new regional government.

In 2003 Jordi Pujol retires as president of the regional government, after 23 years as President

In Nov 2003 Convergence and Union is ousted for the first time in 23 years by a coalition of Socialists, the Revolutionary Left and Greens. Socialist Pasqual Maragall becomes regional president

Between December 2009 and April 2011, Catalan nationalists hold a series of informal, nonbinding votes on independence in regional towns and cities, including the capital Barcelona. 

In Nov 2010 Convergence and Union led by Artur Mas returns to power after regional elections

Catalonia is Spain's richest and most highly industrialised region

A roughly triangular region in Spain's far north-east corner, Catalonia is separated by the Pyrenean mountains from southern France

Most of the region's population lives in Barcelona

Until recently, few Catalans wanted full independence, but Spain's painful economic crisis has seen a surge in support for separation

The regional Govt, in power since elections in November 2012 gave a majority to separatist right- and left-wing parties, wants to hold a referendum on secession from Spain in 2014