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Catalan leader turns himself in to Belgian police
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Catalan president Carles Puigdemont attends a Catalan government meeting at the Generalitat in Barcelona, on Oct. 2, 2017. Catalonia's leader Carles Puigdemont said the region had won the right to break away from Spain after 90 percent of voters taking part in a banned referendum voted for independence, defying a sometimes violent police crackdown and fierce opposition from Madrid. (Agence France -Presse/Lluis Gene)
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atalonia's sacked separatist leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his former ministers turned themselves in to Belgian police on Sunday after Spain issued a warrant for their arrest.
"They were deprived of their liberty at 9.17 am (0817 GMT)," the Belgian prosecutor's office said.
The five were due to appear later Sunday before a judge who can decide whether to detain them or release them with conditions.
Puigdemont and his allies fled to Belgium on Monday after Spain dismissed the Catalan executive and imposed direct rule on Madrid following the regional parliament's declaration of independence.
Only the five, their lawyer and an interpreter will be present at Sunday's hearing, the prosecutor said.
Spain issued a warrant for their arrest on Friday after they failed to appear before a judge over alleged sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds.
The judge in Madrid had on Thursday put Puigdemont's deputy and seven other deposed regional ministers behind bars because of a risk that they would flee.
