Catalonia crisis: Puigdemont ORDERS Spain to free Catalan leaders – ‘It’s a BIG MISTAKE’

In an short address broadcast by Catalan regional television TV3, Puigdemont called for the release of “the legitimate government of Catalonia”, a call echoed by hundreds of people gathered outside the Catalan parliament.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Puigdemont and his government on Friday, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence – a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts.

Mr Puigdemont’s lawyer in Belgium said his client would stay away from Spain while the political climate was “not good”; but he would cooperate with the courts.

Lawyer Paul Bekaert told Reuters: “If they ask, he will cooperate with Spanish and Belgian justice.”

More to follow…