Mr Pujol says that an independent Catalonia - often called the "Germany of Spain", for its high GDP and industrial base - could play a role in turning around the image north Europe has of southern Europe.

BBC: Catalan leaders seek independence vote, legal or not

When the Iraqi government decided early this year to take back the city with a joint Iraqi-American effort, the Brits remained at their airport base, where their role was largely that of spectators.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The toothless lion

Even though the value of the Manta air base lies more in the realm of trade (as a cargo transit point) than in the military, the air base's current U.S. military role means the potential impact on Sino-U.S. military relations cannot be ignored.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: China displaces the U.S. at Ecuador's Manta Base

The name al-Qaeda (the base) dates from the mid-1980s, when Mr bin Laden was playing a prominent role in the American-backed war against the Soviet forces who were occupying Afghanistan.

ECONOMIST: The al-Qaeda network