Spain's Constitutional Court on Wednesday suspended a resolution passed by Catalonia's parliament that declared the start of a secession process in the wealthy northeastern region.

The 11 judges of the court unanimously agreed to accept a lawsuit against the resolution filed by Spain's central government, a judicial source said.

Acceptance of the lawsuit means the resolution is immediately suspended while the judges consider legal arguments.

The Catalan government vowed to push ahead with its secession process despite the suspension.

"The political will of the government of Catalonia is to go ahead with the content of the resolution approved Monday by the Catalan parliament," the vice president of the Catalan government, Neus Munte, told a news conference after the court announced its decision.

Source: AFP