Yahoo News Carles Puigdemont: Former Catalan leader hands himself into Belgian authorities
Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has handed himself in to Belgian authorities after Spain issued a new warrant for his arrest.
Mr Puigdemont, the former president of Catalonia, has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium to avoid charges of sedition against the Spanish state, as well as misuse of public funds.
The charges were brought against him by Spanish prosecutors for his role in Catalonia's failed unilateral declaration of independence in 2017, after which he fled the country.
Mr Puigdemont's office said that he had "in the company of his lawyers, voluntarily appeared before Belgian authorities".
A statement said he rejected the warrant and any attempt to bring him back to Spain to face trial.
It comes days after Spanish courts sentenced nine of his former colleagues to prison terms for their roles in the episode.
Catalonia and its capital Barcelona is currently paralysed by a mix of strikes and protests, which have continued for five days after the sentencing of the politicians.
More than 200 people have been arrested and scores injured in clashes. Demonstrations on Friday were mostly peaceful and calm, but a confrontation occurred in the afternoon with some protesters erupted outside a police headquarters in central Barcelona.
Many shops and factories in the region did not open for business on Friday, and rail services were seriously curtailed, while at least two large cruise operators diverted their ships to other ports.
Pedro Sanchez, the country's prime minister authorities will prosecute radicals who rioted this week while ensuring that peaceful protests can continue without incidents.
"The rule is clear," Sanchez told a press conference in Brussels, where he was attending an EU summit alongside other leaders. "Those who break the law have to answer for their deeds sooner or later."
Mr Sanchez faces a general election on 10 November this year that he called after political deadlock prevented him from forming a coalition government. It will Spain's fourth general election in as many years and the second in 2019.
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