Voters in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia were casting ballots for their local Congress Sunday, with separatists hoping to win a majority.

The ballot comes six months after a closer-than-expected referendum raised questions over France's grip on the strategic islands, which sit on a quarter of the world's known supplies of nickel, a vital electronics component.&nbsp;

The referendum result showed 56.7 per cent voted to stay French, a much tighter outcome than predicted.

Under a 1998 agreement, there can be two further votes on independence before 2022 in the archipelago more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) northeast of Brisbane, Australia.

In the outgoing local Congress, pro-independence factions held 25 of the 54 seats.

Supporters of independence for the islands, fringed by stunning beaches, are mostly ethnic Kanaks who make up less than half the population of 269,000 people.

White residents -- descendants of early European settlers as well as more recent arrivals -- overwhelmingly want to stay French. They are joined by other Pacific minorities.

Last November's referendum was the culmination of the 1998 peace deal which followed a quasi-civil war between Kanaks and whites that left more than 70 dead in the 1980s.

The "Noumea deal" has also paved the way for the islands to become increasingly autonomous, with wide areas of policy under the control of local authorities.&nbsp;

Almost 170,000 people are eligible to cast ballots on Sunday, with more than 900 candidates running.

There are 76 elected provincial representatives, 54 of whom will sit in the Congress.

Voting is restricted to the "population concerned" with the archipelago's political future and requires that electors must have been resident at least since 1998.

Voters in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia were casting ballots for their local Congress Sunday, with separatists hoping to win a majority. The ballot comes six months after a closer-than-expected referendum raised questions over France's grip on the strategic islands, which sit on a quarter of the world's known supplies of nickel, a vital electronics component.

Voters in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia were casting ballots for their local Congress Sunday, with separatists hoping to win a majority. The ballot comes six months after a closer-than-expected referendum raised questions over France's grip on the strategic islands, which sit on a quarter of the world's known supplies of nickel, a vital electronics component. The referendum result showed 56.7 per cent voted to stay French, a much tighter outcome than predicted. Under a 1998 agreement, there can be two further votes on independence before 2022 in the archipelago more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) northeast of Brisbane, Australia. In the outgoing local Congress, pro-independence factions held 25 of the 54 seats. Supporters of independence for the islands, fringed by stunning beaches, are mostly ethnic Kanaks who make up less than half the population of 269,000 people. White residents -- descendants of early European settlers as well as more recent arrivals -- overwhelmingly want to stay French. They are joined by other Pacific minorities. Last November's referendum was the culmination of the 1998 peace deal which followed a quasi-civil war between Kanaks and whites that left more than 70 dead in the 1980s. The "Noumea deal" has also paved the way for the islands to become increasingly autonomous, with wide areas of policy under the control of local authorities. Almost 170,000 people are eligible to cast ballots on Sunday, with more than 900 candidates running. There are 76 elected provincial representatives, 54 of whom will sit in the Congress. Voting is restricted to the "population concerned" with the archipelago's political future and requires that electors must have been resident at least since 1998.

Separatists seek majority as New Caledonia votes

Hundreds of thousands of Catalans took to the streets of Catalonia demanding freedom from Spain on Sunday. 
 
The mass rally comes as the pro-independence assembly vows to go ahead with plans of forming a new state in 2017, Reuters reported. 
 
The march took place in five cities, including Barcelona where 540,000 people participated, police said. 
 
The protests took place on their national day &quot; La Daida&quot; when Spain&#39;s King Philip V conquered Barcelona in 1714.&nbsp; 
 
Catalans shouted &quot;Ready&quot; in Catalan, proclaiming they were ready to be free.&nbsp; 
 
Head of the Catalan National Assembly, which organised the protest, Jordi Sanchez told the protestors, &quot;This is the moment to stand united for the &#39;yes&#39; to the Catalan Republic.&quot; 
 
&quot;We are impatient,&quot; he added. 
 
However, Spain&#39;s government is opposing any move towards secession, creating obstacles through constitutional laws.&nbsp; 
 
In 2015, the pro-separatist party won a majority of seats in the regional assembly and have now started laying the groundwork for an independent state.&nbsp; 
 
Anti-independence campaigners told Reuters that the secessionists fell short of winning an overall majority of votes last year, which will weaken the mandate for separation. 
 
A poll conducted in January showed 48 per cent were in favour of Catalonia becoming independent, while 42 per cent opposed it. 
 
According to an AFP report, the call for separation strengthened after the 2012 economic crisis when many Catalans resented paying higher taxes to the Spanish government to aid the poorer regions. 
 
Carles Puigdemont, head of the regional Catalonia government told journalists assembled at the rally, that in coming months &quot;critical decisions&quot; will be taken on Catalonia&#39;s future. 
 
Analysts say&nbsp;Puigdemont will win the confidence vote in the Catalan assembly, which will take place on September 8. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

The mass rally took place to project their readiness in forming a new state in 2017

Hundreds of thousands of Catalans took to the streets of Catalonia demanding freedom from Spain on Sunday. The mass rally comes as the pro-independence assembly vows to go ahead with plans of forming a new state in 2017, Reuters reported. The march took place in five cities, including Barcelona where 540,000 people participated, police said. The protests took place on their national day " La Daida" when Spain's King Philip V conquered Barcelona in 1714. Catalans shouted "Ready" in Catalan, proclaiming they were ready to be free. Head of the Catalan National Assembly, which organised the protest, Jordi Sanchez told the protestors, "This is the moment to stand united for the 'yes' to the Catalan Republic." "We are impatient," he added. However, Spain's government is opposing any move towards secession, creating obstacles through constitutional laws. In 2015, the pro-separatist party won a majority of seats in the regional assembly and have now started laying the groundwork for an independent state. Anti-independence campaigners told Reuters that the secessionists fell short of winning an overall majority of votes last year, which will weaken the mandate for separation. A poll conducted in January showed 48 per cent were in favour of Catalonia becoming independent, while 42 per cent opposed it. According to an AFP report, the call for separation strengthened after the 2012 economic crisis when many Catalans resented paying higher taxes to the Spanish government to aid the poorer regions. Carles Puigdemont, head of the regional Catalonia government told journalists assembled at the rally, that in coming months "critical decisions" will be taken on Catalonia's future. Analysts say Puigdemont will win the confidence vote in the Catalan assembly, which will take place on September 8. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Catalans march on streets to demand break from Spain

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Separatists seek majority as New Caledonia votes

Catalans march on streets to demand break from Spain