Spanish prosecution sues Catalan leaders for rebellion, sedition

Madrid, Oct 30 (IANS) Spain's chief prosecutor on Monday called for charges, including rebellion, to be laid against Catalan leaders following the region's declaration of independence.

Jos? Manuel Maza said the charges should also include sedition and provocation by regional officials.

Maza said he would seek to charge a range of senior Catalan figures including deposed President Carles Puigdemont and his Cabinet after the regional Parliament voted to issue a unilateral declaration of independence last week, BBC reported.

In addition, Maza said a second lawsuit had been filed in the Supreme Court against Catalan Parliament Speaker Carme Forcadell and other chamber officials for allowing the independence declaration to be voted through by lawmakers on Friday.

The announcement came as civil servants in Catalonia returned to work under the Spanish government's control following a week of political upheaval.

Madrid suspended the region's autonomy and imposed direct rule after the Catalan Parliament unilaterally declared independence on Friday in Barcelona.

Invoking a never-before-used provision of the Spanish Constitution, the Spanish government sacked Catalan leader Puigdemont. It also dissolved Parliament and called new elections for December 21.

Madrid said Puigdemont was eligible to run in the December vote but it also suggested he could be arrested and charged with rebellion, a crime that could carry a 30-year jail term.

Puigdemont posted a photograph on social media on Monday that had been taken from inside Parliament's building with the caption, "Good morning" and a smiley face.

The photo had been clearly taken on a previous day and there was no sign that had entered the building on Monday.

Spain was plunged into it worst political crisis since the restoration of democracy in the 1970s after Catalonia held an independence referendum on October 1 that Madrid rejected as illegal.

Puigdemont said the vote gave him a mandate to declare independence. Some 90 per cent voted in favour of independence in the disputed referendum but turnout was only 43 per cent.

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