Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont arrested in ItalyFormer Catalan president Carles Puigdemont is wanted in Spain on allegations of sedition following an attempt to gain independence through a referendumMADRID - Exiled former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont was arrested in Italy on Thursday, his lawyer and an aide said, four years after fleeing following an independence referendum that Madrid ruled unconstitutional. Puigdemont's lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, tweeted that the exiled separatist leader was arrested on his arrival in Italy, where he was travelling in his capacity as an MEP. Following Thursday's arrest, Madrid expressed "its respect for the decisions of the Italian authorities and courts". - 'Persecution' -New Catalan president Pere Aragones -- a separatist but more moderate than his predecessor -- condemned what he called the "persecution" of Puigdemont. Besides Puigdemont, former Catalan regional ministers Toni Comin and Clara Ponsati are also wanted in Spain on allegations of sedition.

Source: Bangkok Post September 24, 2021 01:07 UTC