MADRID (Reuters) - Catalonia's High Court said on Monday it would open proceedings over the alleged disobedience of regional President Artur Mas and other local leaders for holding a symbolic vote on independence from Spain in November.

The non-binding referendum had been strongly opposed by Spain's central government and blocked by the country's Constitutional Court. But Mas pressed ahead anyway, staging an informal poll in an event marshalled largely by volunteers instead of government officials.

Spain's originally state prosecutor brought the case against Mas. The legal probe could potentially block him from taking part in regional elections.