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By Sarah Rainsford  BBC News, Barcelona 

The parliament of Catalonia is to vote on whether or not to become the first region of mainland Spain to ban bullfighting.

The vote is taking place as the result of a petition brought to parliament signed by 180,000 people who argue that the practice is barbaric and outdated.

Bullfight supporters insist that the corrida, as it is known, is an important tradition to preserve.

They also fear the vote could be the first of many in the country.