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Barcelona: Around one million people rallied in Barcelona on Tuesday, banging drums and blowing whistles in a show of support for Catalan independence nearly a year after a failed attempt to break away from Spain. Wearing coral-red T-shirts and waving the red, yellow and blue Catalan separatist flag, a sea of protesters gathered for the rally on Catalonia's"national day"which commemorates Barcelona's fall to troops loyal to Spain's King Philip V in 1714. The annual"Diada"holiday has since 2012 been used to stage a massive rally calling for secession for the wealthy northeastern region that has its own distinct language. But this year's event had particular significance as a test of strength after a referendum last October 1 deemed illegal by the courts, and the Catalan parliament's unilateral declaration of independence on October 27, all came to naught. Demonstrators climbed on each other's shoulders to form human towers, a Catalan tradition. (AFP)
