diff --git a/autoload/vimwiki/base.vim b/autoload/vimwiki/base.vim
index 81c9c45..4a7abce 100644
--- a/autoload/vimwiki/base.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimwiki/base.vim
@@ -1103,8 +1103,8 @@ function! vimwiki#base#follow_link(split, ...) "{{{ Parse link at cursor and pas
     endif
     " try Weblink
     if lnk == ""
-      let lnk = matchstr(vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblink')),
-            \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblinkMatchUrl'))
+      let lnk = matchstr(vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblink')),
+            \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblinkMatchUrl'))
     endif
 
     if lnk != ""
@@ -1766,7 +1766,7 @@ function! s:normalize_link_syntax_n() " {{{
   let lnk = vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink'))
   if !empty(lnk)
     let sub = vimwiki#base#normalize_link_helper(lnk,
-          \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchUrl'), vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkMatchDescr'),
+          \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchUrl'), vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchDescr'),
           \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiLinkTemplate2'))
     call vimwiki#base#replacestr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink'), sub)
     return
@@ -1780,11 +1780,11 @@ function! s:normalize_link_syntax_n() " {{{
   endif
 
   " try Weblink
-  let lnk = vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblink'))
+  let lnk = vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblink'))
   if !empty(lnk)
     let sub = vimwiki#base#normalize_link_helper(lnk,
           \ lnk, '', vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiLinkTemplate2'))
-    call vimwiki#base#replacestr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblink'), sub)
+    call vimwiki#base#replacestr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblink'), sub)
     return
   endif
 
diff --git a/autoload/vimwiki/html.vim b/autoload/vimwiki/html.vim
index 944e857..72b946a 100644
--- a/autoload/vimwiki/html.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimwiki/html.vim
@@ -375,8 +375,8 @@ endfunction "}}}
 function! s:tag_weblink(value) "{{{
   " Weblink Template -> <a href="url">descr</a>
   let str = a:value
-  let url = matchstr(str, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblinkMatchUrl'))
-  let descr = matchstr(str, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblinkMatchDescr'))
+  let url = matchstr(str, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblinkMatchUrl'))
+  let descr = matchstr(str, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblinkMatchDescr'))
   let line = vimwiki#html#linkify_link(url, descr)
   return line
 endfunction "}}}
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ function! s:tag_wikilink(value) "{{{
   " [[#a1#a2]]                -> <a href="#a1-a2">#a1#a2</a>
   let str = a:value
   let url = matchstr(str, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchUrl'))
-  let descr = matchstr(str, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkMatchDescr'))
+  let descr = matchstr(str, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchDescr'))
   let descr = (substitute(descr,'^\s*\(.*\)\s*$','\1','') != '' ? descr : url)
 
   let line = VimwikiLinkConverter(url, s:current_wiki_file,
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ function! s:process_tags_links(line) " {{{
   let line = a:line
   let line = s:make_tag(line, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink'), 's:tag_wikilink')
   let line = s:make_tag(line, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiIncl'), 's:tag_wikiincl')
-  let line = s:make_tag(line, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblink'), 's:tag_weblink')
+  let line = s:make_tag(line, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblink'), 's:tag_weblink')
   return line
 endfunction " }}}
 
diff --git a/autoload/vimwiki/markdown_base.vim b/autoload/vimwiki/markdown_base.vim
index 429e2c5..f0ee7a3 100644
--- a/autoload/vimwiki/markdown_base.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimwiki/markdown_base.vim
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ function! vimwiki#markdown_base#follow_link(split, ...) "{{{ Parse link at curso
     endif
     " try Weblink
     if lnk == ""
-      let lnk = matchstr(vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblink')),
-            \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblinkMatchUrl'))
+      let lnk = matchstr(vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblink')),
+            \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblinkMatchUrl'))
     endif
 
     if lnk != ""
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ function! s:normalize_link_syntax_n() " {{{
   let lnk = vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink0'))
   if !empty(lnk)
     let sub = vimwiki#base#normalize_link_helper(lnk,
-          \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchUrl'), vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkMatchDescr'),
+          \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchUrl'), vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchDescr'),
           \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template2'))
     call vimwiki#base#replacestr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink0'), sub)
     return
@@ -152,19 +152,19 @@ function! s:normalize_link_syntax_n() " {{{
   let lnk = vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1'))
   if !empty(lnk)
     let sub = vimwiki#base#normalize_link_helper(lnk,
-          \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchUrl'), vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkMatchDescr'),
+          \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchUrl'), vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLinkMatchDescr'),
           \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiLinkTemplate2'))
     call vimwiki#base#replacestr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1'), sub)
     return
   endif
   
   " try Weblink
-  let lnk = vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblink'))
+  let lnk = vimwiki#base#matchstr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblink'))
   if !empty(lnk)
     let sub = vimwiki#base#normalize_link_helper(lnk,
-          \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblinkMatchUrl'), vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblinkMatchDescr'),
+          \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblinkMatchUrl'), vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblinkMatchDescr'),
           \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('Weblink1Template'))
-    call vimwiki#base#replacestr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblink'), sub)
+    call vimwiki#base#replacestr_at_cursor(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblink'), sub)
     return
   endif
 
diff --git a/autoload/vimwiki/vars.vim b/autoload/vimwiki/vars.vim
index 0d915df..9e7a1b0 100644
--- a/autoload/vimwiki/vars.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimwiki/vars.vim
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ function! s:populate_global_variables()
           \ '\%('.join(split(web_schemes2, '\s*,\s*'), '\|').'\):'.
         \ '\)'
 
-  let g:vimwiki_global_vars['rxWeblinkUrl'] = rxWebProtocols . '\S\{-1,}'. '\%(([^ \t()]*)\)\='
+  let g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWeblinkUrl = rxWebProtocols . '\S\{-1,}'. '\%(([^ \t()]*)\)\='
 
   let wikilink_prefix = '[['
   let wikilink_suffix = ']]'
@@ -105,12 +105,6 @@ function! s:populate_global_variables()
   " non-Ascii characters
   let g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWord = '[^[:blank:]!"$%&''()*+,:;<=>?\[\]\\^`{}]\+'
 
-  " [[URL]], or [[URL|DESCRIPTION]]
-  " c) match DESCRIPTION within [[URL|DESCRIPTION]]
-  let g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkMatchDescr = g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_prefix.
-        \ g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkUrl . g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_separator.'\%('.
-        \ '\zs'. g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkDescr. '\ze\)\?'. g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_suffix
-
   let g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_prefix1 = g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_prefix . g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkUrl .
         \ g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_separator
   let g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_suffix1 = g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_suffix
@@ -147,15 +141,6 @@ function! s:populate_global_variables()
   let g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiInclSuffix1 = g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiInclArgs.
         \ g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiInclSuffix
 
-  " 0. URL : free-standing links: keep URL UR(L) strip trailing punct: URL; URL) UR(L))
-  " let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink = '[\["(|]\@<!'. g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkUrl .
-  " \ '\%([),:;.!?]\=\%([ \t]\|$\)\)\@='
-  let g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWeblink = '\<'. g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWeblinkUrl . '\S*'
-  " 0a) match URL within URL
-  let g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWeblinkMatchUrl = g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWeblink
-  " 0b) match DESCRIPTION within URL
-  let g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWeblinkMatchDescr = ''
-
   let g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxTodo = '\C\%(TODO:\|DONE:\|STARTED:\|FIXME:\|FIXED:\|XXX:\)'
 
   " default colors when headers of different levels are highlighted differently
@@ -348,6 +333,15 @@ function! vimwiki#vars#populate_syntax_vars(syntax)
     let g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxListItemAndChildren = '^\(\s*\)\%('.g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxListBullet.'\|'.g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxListNumber.'\)\s\+\['.g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].listsyms_list[4].'\]\s.*\%(\n\%(\1\s.*\|^$\)\)*'
   endif
 
+  " 0. URL : free-standing links: keep URL UR(L) strip trailing punct: URL; URL) UR(L))
+  " let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink = '[\["(|]\@<!'. g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkUrl .
+  " \ '\%([),:;.!?]\=\%([ \t]\|$\)\)\@='
+  let g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxWeblink = '\<'. g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWeblinkUrl . '\S*'
+  " 0a) match URL within URL
+  let g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxWeblinkMatchUrl = g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxWeblink
+  " 0b) match DESCRIPTION within URL
+  let g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxWeblinkMatchDescr = ''
+
   " template for matching all wiki links with a given target file
   let g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].WikiLinkMatchUrlTemplate =
         \ g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_prefix .
@@ -365,11 +359,15 @@ function! vimwiki#vars#populate_syntax_vars(syntax)
         \ g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkUrl.'\%('.g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_separator.
         \ g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkDescr.'\)\?'.g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_suffix
   let g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxAnyLink = g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxWikiLink.'\|'.
-      \ g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiIncl.'\|'.g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWeblink
+      \ g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiIncl.'\|'.g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxWeblink
   " b) match URL within [[URL|DESCRIPTION]]
   let g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxWikiLinkMatchUrl = g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_prefix.
         \ '\zs'. g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkUrl.'\ze\%('. g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_separator.
         \ g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkDescr.'\)\?'.g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_suffix
+  " c) match DESCRIPTION within [[URL|DESCRIPTION]]
+  let g:vimwiki_syntax_variables[a:syntax].rxWikiLinkMatchDescr = g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_prefix.
+        \ g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkUrl . g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_separator.'\%('.
+        \ '\zs'. g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkDescr. '\ze\)\?'. g:vimwiki_global_vars.rx_wikilink_suffix
 
   if a:syntax ==# 'markdown'
     call s:populate_extra_markdown_vars()
@@ -381,11 +379,11 @@ function! s:populate_extra_markdown_vars()
   let mkd_syntax = g:vimwiki_syntax_variables['markdown']
 
   " 0a) match [[URL|DESCRIPTION]]
-  let mkd_syntax.vimwiki_rxWikiLink0 = mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink0 = mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink
   " 0b) match URL within [[URL|DESCRIPTION]]
-  let mkd_syntax.vimwiki_rxWikiLink0MatchUrl = mkd_syntax.rxWikiLinkMatchUrl
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink0MatchUrl = mkd_syntax.rxWikiLinkMatchUrl
   " 0c) match DESCRIPTION within [[URL|DESCRIPTION]]
-  let mkd_syntax.vimwiki_rxWikiLink0MatchDescr = g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkMatchDescr
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink0MatchDescr = g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkMatchDescr
 
   let wikilink_md_prefix = '['
   let wikilink_md_suffix = ']'
@@ -401,59 +399,124 @@ function! s:populate_extra_markdown_vars()
   let mkd_syntax.WikiLink1Template2 = wikilink_md_prefix. '__LinkDescription__'.
         \ wikilink_md_separator. '__LinkUrl__'. wikilink_md_suffix
   let mkd_syntax.WikiLinkMatchUrlTemplate .=
-      \ '\|' .
-      \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix .
-      \ '.*' .
-      \ rx_wikilink_md_separator .
-      \ '\zs__LinkUrl__\ze\%(#.*\)\?' .
-      \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix .
-      \ '\|' .
-      \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix .
-      \ '\zs__LinkUrl__\ze\%(#.*\)\?' .
-      \ rx_wikilink_md_separator .
-      \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix
+        \ '\|' .
+        \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix .
+        \ '.*' .
+        \ rx_wikilink_md_separator .
+        \ '\zs__LinkUrl__\ze\%(#.*\)\?' .
+        \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix .
+        \ '\|' .
+        \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix .
+        \ '\zs__LinkUrl__\ze\%(#.*\)\?' .
+        \ rx_wikilink_md_separator .
+        \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix
 
-let valid_chars = '[^\\\[\]]'
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url = valid_chars.'\{-}'
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Descr = valid_chars.'\{-}'
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1InvalidPrefix = '[\]\[]\@<!'
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1InvalidSuffix = '[\]\[]\@!'
-let mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix = mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1InvalidPrefix.
-      \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix
-let mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix.
-      \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1InvalidSuffix
+  let valid_chars = '[^\\\[\]]'
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url = valid_chars.'\{-}'
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Descr = valid_chars.'\{-}'
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1InvalidPrefix = '[\]\[]\@<!'
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1InvalidSuffix = '[\]\[]\@!'
+  let mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix = mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1InvalidPrefix.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix
+  let mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1InvalidSuffix
 
-" 1. match [URL][], [DESCRIPTION][URL]
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1 = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix.
-    \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
-    \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix.
-    \ '\|'. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix.
-    \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Descr . mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
-    \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url . mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix
-" 2. match URL within [URL][], [DESCRIPTION][URL]
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1MatchUrl = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix.
-    \ '\zs'. mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url. '\ze'. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
-    \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix.
-    \ '\|'. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix.
-    \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Descr. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
-    \ '\zs'. mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url. '\ze'. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix
-" 3. match DESCRIPTION within [DESCRIPTION][URL]
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1MatchDescr = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix.
-    \ '\zs'. mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Descr.'\ze'. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
-    \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url . mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix
+  " 1. match [URL][], [DESCRIPTION][URL]
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1 = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix.
+        \ '\|'. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Descr . mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url . mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix
+  " 2. match URL within [URL][], [DESCRIPTION][URL]
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1MatchUrl = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix.
+        \ '\zs'. mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url. '\ze'. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix.
+        \ '\|'. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Descr. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
+        \ '\zs'. mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url. '\ze'. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix
+  " 3. match DESCRIPTION within [DESCRIPTION][URL]
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1MatchDescr = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix.
+        \ '\zs'. mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Descr.'\ze'. mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url . mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix
 
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Prefix1 = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Suffix1 = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
-      \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url . mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Prefix1 = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Suffix1 = mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_separator.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1Url . mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix
 
-" 1. match ANY wikilink
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink = ''.
-    \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink0.'\|'.
-    \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1
-" 2. match URL within ANY wikilink
-let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLinkMatchUrl = ''.
-    \ g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink0MatchUrl.'\|'.
-    \ g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1MatchUrl
+  " 1. match ANY wikilink
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink = mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink0 . '\|' . mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1
+  " 2. match URL within ANY wikilink
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLinkMatchUrl = mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink0MatchUrl . '\|' .
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1MatchUrl
+  " 3. match DESCRIPTION within ANY wikilink
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWikiLinkMatchDescr = mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink0MatchDescr . '\|' .
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWikiLink1MatchDescr
+
+  " 0. URL : free-standing links: keep URL UR(L) strip trailing punct: URL; URL) UR(L))
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink0 = mkd_syntax.rxWeblink
+  " 0a) match URL within URL
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblinkMatchUrl0 = mkd_syntax.rxWeblinkMatchUrl
+  " 0b) match DESCRIPTION within URL
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblinkMatchDescr0 = mkd_syntax.rxWeblinkMatchDescr
+
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix = '['
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix = ')'
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator = ']('
+  " [DESCRIPTION](URL)
+  let mkd_syntax.Weblink1Template = mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix . '__LinkDescription__'.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator. '__LinkUrl__'.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix
+
+  let valid_chars = '[^\\]'
+
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix = vimwiki#u#escape(mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix)
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix = vimwiki#u#escape(mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix)
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator = vimwiki#u#escape(mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator)
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Url = valid_chars.'\{-}'
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Descr = valid_chars.'\{-}'
+
+  " 1. [DESCRIPTION](URL)
+  " 1a) match [DESCRIPTION](URL)
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1 = mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Url . mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Descr . mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix
+  " 1b) match URL within [DESCRIPTION](URL)
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1MatchUrl = mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Descr. mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator.
+        \ '\zs' . mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Url . '\ze' . mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix
+  " 1c) match DESCRIPTION within [DESCRIPTION](URL)
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1MatchDescr = mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix.
+        \ '\zs'.mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Descr.'\ze'. mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Url. mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix
+
+  " TODO: image links too !!
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix1 = mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix1 = mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Url . mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix
+
+  " *a) match ANY weblink
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink = ''.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1.'\|'.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink0
+  " *b) match URL within ANY weblink
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblinkMatchUrl = ''.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1MatchUrl.'\|'.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblinkMatchUrl0
+  " *c) match DESCRIPTION within ANY weblink
+  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblinkMatchDescr = ''.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1MatchDescr.'\|'.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblinkMatchDescr0
+
+  let g:vimwiki_rxAnyLink = g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink.'\|'.
+        \ g:vimwiki_rxWikiIncl.'\|'.mkd_syntax.rxWeblink
+
+  let mkd_syntax.rxMkdRef = '\['.g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkDescr.']:\%(\s\+\|\n\)'.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink0
+  let g:vimwiki_rxMkdRefMatchDescr = '\[\zs'.g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkDescr.'\ze]:\%(\s\+\|\n\)'.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink0
+  let g:vimwiki_rxMkdRefMatchUrl = '\['.g:vimwiki_global_vars.rxWikiLinkDescr.']:\%(\s\+\|\n\)\zs'.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink0.'\ze'
 endfunction
 
 
@@ -492,6 +555,14 @@ function! vimwiki#vars#get_bufferlocal(key)
     let subdir = vimwiki#vars#get_bufferlocal('subdir')
     let b:vimwiki_invsubdir = vimwiki#base#invsubdir(subdir)
     return b:vimwiki_invsubdir
+  elseif a:key ==# 'existing_wikifiles'
+    let b:vimwiki_existing_wikifiles =
+        \ vimwiki#base#get_wikilinks(vimwiki#vars#get_bufferlocal('wiki_nr'), 1)
+    return b:vimwiki_existing_wikifiles
+  elseif a:key ==# 'existing_wikidirs'
+    let b:vimwiki_existing_wikidirs =
+        \ vimwiki#base#get_wiki_directories(vimwiki#vars#get_bufferlocal('wiki_nr'))
+    return b:vimwiki_existing_wikidirs
   endif
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki.vim b/syntax/vimwiki.vim
index debf4d4..b6f6d48 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki.vim
@@ -10,13 +10,6 @@ elseif exists("b:current_syntax")
 endif
 
 
-if vimwiki#vars#get_wikilocal('maxhi')
-  let b:existing_wikifiles =
-        \ vimwiki#base#get_wikilinks(vimwiki#vars#get_bufferlocal('wiki_nr'), 1)
-  let b:existing_wikidirs  =
-        \ vimwiki#base#get_wiki_directories(vimwiki#vars#get_bufferlocal('wiki_nr'))
-endif
-
 let s:current_syntax = vimwiki#vars#get_wikilocal('syntax')
 
 call vimwiki#vars#populate_syntax_vars(s:current_syntax)
@@ -46,10 +39,10 @@ function! s:highlight_existing_links() "{{{
   " Conditional highlighting that depends on the existence of a wiki file or
   "   directory is only available for *schemeless* wiki links
   " Links are set up upon BufEnter (see plugin/...)
-  let safe_links = '\%('.vimwiki#base#file_pattern(b:existing_wikifiles) .
+  let safe_links = '\%('.vimwiki#base#file_pattern(vimwiki#vars#get_bufferlocal('existing_wikifiles')) .
         \ '\%(#[^|]*\)\?\|#[^|]*\)'
   " Wikilink Dirs set up upon BufEnter (see plugin/...)
-  let safe_dirs = vimwiki#base#file_pattern(b:existing_wikidirs)
+  let safe_dirs = vimwiki#base#file_pattern(vimwiki#vars#get_bufferlocal('existing_wikidirs'))
 
   " match [[URL]]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
@@ -102,7 +95,7 @@ else
 endif
 
 " Weblink
-call s:add_target_syntax_ON(vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWeblink'), 'VimwikiLink')
+call s:add_target_syntax_ON(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblink'), 'VimwikiLink')
 
 " WikiLink
 " All remaining schemes are highlighted automatically
diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim b/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim
index da6f001..7f3cc15 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim
@@ -1,114 +1,9 @@
-" vim:tabstop=2:shiftwidth=2:expandtab:foldmethod=marker:textwidth=79
-" Vimwiki syntax file
-" Desc: Special stuff for markdown syntax
-" Home: https://github.com/vimwiki/vimwiki/
-
-" LINKS: assume this is common to all syntaxes "{{{
-
-" }}}
-
-" -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-" Load concrete Wiki syntax: sets regexes and templates for headers and links
-
-" -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-
-" LINKS: setup of larger regexes {{{
 
 
 
 
-" *. ANY wikilink {{{
-" *c) match DESCRIPTION within ANY wikilink
-let g:vimwiki_rxWikiLinkMatchDescr = ''.
-    \ g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink0MatchDescr.'\|'.
-    \ g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1MatchDescr
-" }}}
-
-" LINKS: Setup weblink0 regexps {{{
-" 0. URL : free-standing links: keep URL UR(L) strip trailing punct: URL; URL) UR(L)) 
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink0 = g:vimwiki_rxWeblink
-" 0a) match URL within URL
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkMatchUrl0 = g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkMatchUrl
-" 0b) match DESCRIPTION within URL
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkMatchDescr0 = g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkMatchDescr
-" }}}
-
-" LINKS: Setup weblink1 regexps {{{
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix = '['
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Suffix = ')'
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Separator = ']('
-" [DESCRIPTION](URL)
-let g:vimwiki_Weblink1Template = g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix . '__LinkDescription__'. 
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Separator. '__LinkUrl__'.
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Suffix
-
-let s:valid_chars = '[^\\]'
-
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix = vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix)
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Suffix = vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Suffix)
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Separator = vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Separator)
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Url = s:valid_chars.'\{-}'
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Descr = s:valid_chars.'\{-}'
-
-"
-" " 2012-02-04 TODO not starting with [[ or ][ ?  ... prefix = '[\[\]]\@<!\[' 
-" 1. [DESCRIPTION](URL)
-" 1a) match [DESCRIPTION](URL)
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1 = g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix.
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Url.g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Separator.
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Descr.g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Suffix
-" 1b) match URL within [DESCRIPTION](URL)
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1MatchUrl = g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix.
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Descr. g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Separator.
-      \ '\zs'.g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Url.'\ze'. g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Suffix
-" 1c) match DESCRIPTION within [DESCRIPTION](URL)
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1MatchDescr = g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix.
-      \ '\zs'.g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Descr.'\ze'. g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Separator.
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Url. g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Suffix
-" }}}
-
-" Syntax helper {{{
-" TODO: image links too !!
-" let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix1 = '!\?'. g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix1 = g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Prefix
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Suffix1 = g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Separator.
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Url.g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1Suffix
-" }}}
-
-" *. ANY weblink {{{
-" *a) match ANY weblink
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblink = ''.
-    \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1.'\|'.
-    \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink0
-" *b) match URL within ANY weblink
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkMatchUrl = ''.
-    \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1MatchUrl.'\|'.
-    \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkMatchUrl0
-" *c) match DESCRIPTION within ANY weblink
-let g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkMatchDescr = ''.
-    \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1MatchDescr.'\|'.
-    \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkMatchDescr0
-" }}}
 
 
-" LINKS: Setup anylink regexps {{{
-let g:vimwiki_rxAnyLink = g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink.'\|'. 
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWikiIncl.'\|'.g:vimwiki_rxWeblink
-" }}}
-
-
-" LINKS: setup wikilink1 reference link definitions {{{
-let g:vimwiki_rxMkdRef = '\['.g:vimwiki_rxWikiLinkDescr.']:\%(\s\+\|\n\)'.
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink0
-let g:vimwiki_rxMkdRefMatchDescr = '\[\zs'.g:vimwiki_rxWikiLinkDescr.'\ze]:\%(\s\+\|\n\)'.
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink0
-let g:vimwiki_rxMkdRefMatchUrl = '\['.g:vimwiki_rxWikiLinkDescr.']:\%(\s\+\|\n\)\zs'.
-      \ g:vimwiki_rxWeblink0.'\ze'
-" }}}
-
-" }}} end of Links
 
 " LINKS: highlighting is complicated due to "nonexistent" links feature {{{
 function! s:add_target_syntax_ON(target, type) " {{{
@@ -130,8 +25,8 @@ function! s:add_target_syntax_OFF(target, type) " {{{
 endfunction "}}}
 
 function! s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target) "{{{
-  return g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1InvalidPrefix.a:target.
-        \ g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1InvalidSuffix
+  return vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1InvalidPrefix') . a:target.
+        \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1InvalidSuffix')
 endfunction "}}}
 
 function! s:existing_mkd_refs() "{{{
@@ -144,45 +39,45 @@ function! s:highlight_existing_links() "{{{
   " Conditional highlighting that depends on the existence of a wiki file or
   "   directory is only available for *schemeless* wiki links
   " Links are set up upon BufEnter (see plugin/...)
-  let safe_links = '\%('.vimwiki#base#file_pattern(b:existing_wikifiles) .
+  let safe_links = '\%('.vimwiki#base#file_pattern(vimwiki#vars#get_bufferlocal('existing_wikifiles')) .
         \ '\%(#[^|]*\)\?\|#[^|]*\)'
   " Wikilink1 Dirs set up upon BufEnter (see plugin/...)
-  let safe_dirs = vimwiki#base#file_pattern(b:existing_wikidirs)
+  let safe_dirs = vimwiki#base#file_pattern(vimwiki#vars#get_bufferlocal('existing_wikidirs'))
   " Ref links are cached
   let safe_reflinks = vimwiki#base#file_pattern(s:existing_mkd_refs())
 
 
   " match [URL][]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
-        \ vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_WikiLink1Template1),
-        \ safe_links, g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1Descr, '')
+        \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template1')),
+        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
   " match [DESCRIPTION][URL]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
-        \ vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_WikiLink1Template2),
-        \ safe_links, g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1Descr, '')
+        \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template2')),
+        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 
   " match [DIRURL][]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
-        \ vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_WikiLink1Template1),
-        \ safe_dirs, g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1Descr, '')
+        \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template1')),
+        \ safe_dirs, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
   " match [DESCRIPTION][DIRURL]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
-        \ vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_WikiLink1Template2),
-        \ safe_dirs, g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1Descr, '')
+        \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template2')),
+        \ safe_dirs, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 
   " match [MKDREF][]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
-        \ vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_WikiLink1Template1),
-        \ safe_reflinks, g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1Descr, '')
+        \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template1')),
+        \ safe_reflinks, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
   " match [DESCRIPTION][MKDREF]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
-        \ vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_WikiLink1Template2),
-        \ safe_reflinks, g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1Descr, '')
+        \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template2')),
+        \ safe_reflinks, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 endfunction "}}}
 
@@ -190,17 +85,17 @@ endfunction "}}}
 " use max highlighting - could be quite slow if there are too many wikifiles
 if vimwiki#vars#get_wikilocal('maxhi')
   " WikiLink
-  call s:add_target_syntax_OFF(g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1, 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
+  call s:add_target_syntax_OFF(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1'), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 
   " Subsequently, links verified on vimwiki's path are highlighted as existing
   call s:highlight_existing_links()
 else
   " Wikilink
-  call s:add_target_syntax_ON(g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1, 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
+  call s:add_target_syntax_ON(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1'), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 endif
 
 " Weblink
-call s:add_target_syntax_ON(g:vimwiki_rxWeblink1, 'VimwikiWeblink1')
+call s:add_target_syntax_ON(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWeblink1'), 'VimwikiWeblink1')
 
 " WikiLink
 " All remaining schemes are highlighted automatically
@@ -211,13 +106,13 @@ let s:rxSchemes = '\%('.
 
 " a) match [nonwiki-scheme-URL]
 let s:target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
-      \ vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_WikiLink1Template1),
-      \ s:rxSchemes.g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1Url, g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1Descr, '')
+      \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template1')),
+      \ s:rxSchemes . vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Url'), vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
 call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(s:target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 " b) match [DESCRIPTION][nonwiki-scheme-URL]
 let s:target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
-      \ vimwiki#u#escape(g:vimwiki_WikiLink1Template2),
-      \ s:rxSchemes.g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1Url, g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1Descr, '')
+      \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template2')),
+      \ s:rxSchemes . vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Url'), vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
 call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(s:target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 " }}}
 
@@ -226,7 +121,7 @@ call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(s:target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 
 " Header levels, 1-6
 for s:i in range(1,6)
-  execute 'syntax match VimwikiHeader'.s:i.' /'.g:vimwiki_rxH{s:i}.'/ contains=VimwikiTodo,VimwikiHeaderChar,VimwikiNoExistsLink,VimwikiCode,VimwikiLink,VimwikiWeblink1,VimwikiWikiLink1,@Spell'
+  execute 'syntax match VimwikiHeader'.s:i.' /'.vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocalg('rxH'.s:i).'/ contains=VimwikiTodo,VimwikiHeaderChar,VimwikiNoExistsLink,VimwikiCode,VimwikiLink,VimwikiWeblink1,VimwikiWikiLink1,@Spell'
 endfor
 
 " }}}
@@ -242,8 +137,8 @@ syntax spell toplevel
 " is present) and may be concealed
 let s:options = ' contained transparent contains=NONE'
 " conceal wikilink1
-execute 'syn match VimwikiWikiLink1Char /'.s:rx_wikilink_md_prefix.'/'.s:options
-execute 'syn match VimwikiWikiLink1Char /'.s:rx_wikilink_md_suffix.'/'.s:options
+execute 'syn match VimwikiWikiLink1Char /'.vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rx_wikilink_md_prefix').'/'.s:options
+execute 'syn match VimwikiWikiLink1Char /'.vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rx_wikilink_md_suffix').'/'.s:options
 execute 'syn match VimwikiWikiLink1Char /'.vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Prefix1').'/'.s:options
 execute 'syn match VimwikiWikiLink1Char /'.vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Suffix1').'/'.s:options