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© Albert Gea / ReutersCatalan pro-independence supporters take part in a demonstration, called "Via Lliure a la Republica Catalana" (free way to the Republic of Catalonia) at during the "Diada de Catalunya" (Catalunya's National day) in Barcelona, Spain, September 11, 2015
Hundreds of thousands of Catalans have filled the streets of Barcelona, calling for secession from Spain, as the region prepares to go to the polls in what local politicians say will serve as a proxy vote for independence.

The massive pro-independence rally, called under the title "Gateway to the Catalan Republic" (Via Lliure cap a la República Catalana) is taking place in Barcelona, the regional capital, on Catalonia's national Day, September 11.

About 500,000 people registered on social networks to participate in the pro-independence event, Jordi Sanchez, the president of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), told Sputnik news agency on Friday. However, photos and videos from the scene suggest that many more people had flooded into the streets of Barcelona.

Sanchez said he believed the rally will be one of the largest in Catalonia's history.


The rally, carried out under the slogan "Let's start building a new country" saw people coming to Barcelona from all parts of Catalonia by car, buses and rail.

The rally has stretched along one of the city's main avenues the Meridiana, which starts from the outskirts of the city, heading to the Parc de la Ciutadella. People waving national flags, "estelada" in the Catalan language, are moving towards the parliament building in the park.

The demonstration is taking place on same day of the launch of the electoral campaign, which has been framed as a de facto vote about the region's secession from the rest of Spain.