Spanish govt vows to block Catalonia independence effort

MADRID (AP) - The Spanish government has pledged to take immediate legal action against the regional parliament of Catalonia if the Barcelona-based body approves a proposal next week that would mark the formal start of an attempt to break away from the rest of Spain.

Catalonia's parliament agreed Friday to put the secessionist parties' proposal to a vote on Monday, setting itself up for a confrontation with the national government which deems the move a violation of the constitution.

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said the government will seek the opinion of the Council of State, a government advisory body, and then call a special Cabinet meeting to announce it is seeking a Constitutional Court ruling.

Most polls show Catalans would like a secession referendum but are evenly divided over independence.