Catalonian president calls for independence in New Year speech

The president of the Catalan region in Spain, Artur Mas, has again expressed his determination to hold an independence referendum in 2013.

Mr Mas, currently leading a pro-independence coalition made up of right and left-wing parties, said that the majority of Catalans want to build a new country".

The president said he wanted "all the citizens to decide freely and peacefully our future as a nation".

"We are now facing transcendental pages in our history,"

"Our duty and responsibility is to leave for future generations a country that they can feel proud of."

The Spanish government has rejected the calls, saying a referendum would have no legal force.

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