Ex-Catalan president takes refuge in Belgium under threat of charges

Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont fled to Belgium Monday after Spain's top prosecutor said charges were coming against he and other pro-independence leaders who were removed from the semi-autonomous region.


Spanish Attorney General José Manuel Maza said Puigdemont and other top officials should be prosecuted for rebellion for leading efforts to secede from Spain -- and for misuse of funds.

Although Maza didn't call for the former leaders' immediate arrest, he did ask them to appear in court in Madrid in the coming days.

Puigdemont, however traveled to Brussels Monday -- a day after Belgian Secretary of State Theo Francken offered him refuge.

Although the offer was later denied by Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, Puigdemont left Spain with five of his former ministers.
 [upi.com]
 30/10/17