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Spanish Prosecutor Seeks EU Arrest Warrant for Ousted Catalan leader

by VOA News

   A Spanish state prosecutor called Thursday for a European arrest
   warrant for ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont who has spent this
   week in Brussels and did not abide by a Madrid court order to appear.

   The former leader of Spain's Catalonia region has dismissed the charges
   against him as politically motivated and said he would only return to
   Spain if he receives a guarantee that the legal process will be
   impartial and fair.

   Meanwhile, a group of other Catalan leaders appeared in court to answer
   charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement connected to their push
   for Catalonia's independence.

   Prosecutors have filed charges against 14 Catalan leaders, including
   Puigdemont and his deputy Oriol Junqueras.

   Spain's central government moved to take control of Catalonia last week
   and disbanded the regional parliament in response to an October 1
   independence referendum and subsequent declaration of independence by
   Catalan lawmakers.

   Catalonia itself is divided on the secession issue. Those who
   participated in the referendum opted for independence, but the
   opposition boycotted the vote, while the Madrid government also
   declared it illegal.

   Last week's move to strip Catalonia of its autonomy also included
   setting up new elections in the region for December.