Photo: AP
Sacked Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has gone to Belgium, a lawyer he has hired there says, the BBC reports.
The lawyer, Paul Bekaert, said he had not gone into hiding and did not confirm whether he would seek asylum. Mr Bekaert said Mr Puigdemont was now in the Belgian capital, Brussels.
“He has full rights to be here, there is nothing against him at this moment,” he told Flemish public radio.
Asked whether the Catalan leader was planning to seek asylum in Belgium he added: “We’re keeping all options open – nothing has been decided.”
Spain’s chief prosecutor has called for rebellion charges to be brought against him and other organizers of Catalonia’s banned independence referendum.
The Spanish central government took direct control of Catalonia on Monday, replacing sacked officials.
It suspended the region’s autonomy and called for fresh elections after Mr Puigdemont and his government declared independence last week.
