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The Catalan Parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, prompting the central government to impose direct rule just 40 minutes later.

The motion was carried by 70 votes to 10, with two abstentions. 

But before the vote, opposition parties stormed out of parliament in protest - with pro-independence MPs draping their empty seats with Catalan flags. 

In response, the Spanish government in Madrid has invoked article 155 of the country's constitution, dismantling Catalonia’s autonomy.