Catalan leader suspends declaration of independence

Catalonia's leader Carles Puigdemont said today he accepted the "mandate of the people" for the region to become "an independent republic," but proposed suspending its immediate implementation to allow for dialogue.
"I assume the mandate of the people for Catalonia to become an independent republic," he told Catalan lawmakers, but asked parliament to "suspend the independence declaration to initiate dialogue in the coming weeks.