AKIPRESS.COM - Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and other regional leaders have signed a declaration of independence from Spain, following the disputed referendum, BBC reported.

However, they say the move will not be implemented for several weeks to allow talks with the government in Madrid.

The document calls for Catalonia to be recognised as an "independent and sovereign state".

The move was immediately dismissed by the Spanish central government in Madrid.

A 1 October referendum in the north-eastern province - which Catalan leaders say resulted in a Yes vote for independence - was declared invalid by Spain's Constitutional Court.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Puigdemont told the Catalan parliament in Barcelona that the region had won the right to be independent as a result of the vote.