SPAIN-REGIONS-CATALONIA-INDEPENDENCE-REFERENDUM

Leader of the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya leftist republican party (ERC) Oriol Junqueras attends an ordinary session at the Catalan Parliament in Barcelona on October 15, 2014. Catalonia's president Artur Mas said on October 14 a snap election could be held to let the region vote on independence, watering down plans for a referendum under pressure from Spanish authorities. His change of tack fuelled divisions in the pro-independence camp, raising the Spanish government's hopes of winning the standoff with the wealthy northeastern region -- but analysts warned the battle was far from over. AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)