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BARCELONA (Reuters) - Ballot boxes and voting papers were being set out at some voting stations in Catalonia in preparation for Sunday’s planned referendum on splitting from Spain, local media said, despite Spanish authorities declaring the vote illegal.

Catalonia’s TV3 showed ballot boxes and voting papers ready at one polling station in a Barcelona suburb. La Vanguardia newspaper reported that the first ballot boxes had arrived in several centers.

Voting is due to start at 9 A.M. (0700 GMT) but it is unclear if police will allow it to go ahead.