Spain issues EU arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont

A Spanish judge has issued European arrest warrants for former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and four other separatist leaders after they failed to attend a high court hearing and fled to Brussels.

They have been accused of rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds for pursuing Catalan independence.

Belgium will "study" the warrant, a spokesman for the state prosecutor told AFP news agency.

Nine other ex-members of the regional government were taken into custody on Thursday. One have been freed on bail of €50,000.

Puigdemont has said he will not return to Spain unless he receives guarantees of a fair trial.

If they are arrested by Belgian police, Puigdemont and his colleagues would have to be brought in front a judge within 24 hours.

Puigdemont has vowed to stand in the snap Catalan poll on 21 December, saying: "It's possible to run a campaign from anywhere".

Mr Puigdemont told Belgian media that he "will not run from justice",  insisting "I will go to the justice authorities, but the real justice authorities.

"I have told my lawyer to tell Belgian justice authorities that I am completely ready to cooperate."