Barcelona stages final bullfight

BARCELONA, Spain - Three top matadors killed six half-ton bulls on Sunday in the last bullfight held in Catalonia before a ban on the centuries-old tradition comes into effect in the northeastern Spanish region.

The sold-out crowd of 18,000 applauded and chanted "Freedom" throughout the bullfight at Barcelona's Monumental arena, the city's last active bullring which opened its doors in 1914.

Serafin Marin, a 28-year-old Catalan who is a fierce defender of the tradition, put his hand over his heart after he killed the last bull, a 570-kg beast named "Dudalegre".