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Catalonia is one of Spain's richest regions with 7.5 million people. It has a distinct history stretching back to the early middle ages. Many Catalans think of themselves as a separate nation from the rest of Spain. A row over a planned independence referendum has escalated into what some say is the biggest political crisis in Spain in three decades. 91¸£ÀûÉç World Service's Europe Regional Editor, Mike Sanders, explains the story behind the separatism. (Photo: Students demonstrate in Barcelona against the position of the Spanish government to ban a self-determination referendum of Catalonia Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)