Former Catalan president flees to Belgium

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has traveled to Belgium alongside five of his ministers, where some believed that they will seek asylum.

At the weekend, Belgium's secretary for immigration, Flemish nationalist Theo Francken, opened the door for possibly granting asylum to Puigdemont, although he was later told by prime minister Charles Michel not to "pour more oil on the fire".

There was a precedent for tensions between Brussels and Madrid due to the former granting 'safe harbour' to members of Basque terrorist group ETA.

Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, in Madrid, state attorney general Jose Manuel Maza brought charges against 14 former members of the regional Catalan government and six members of parliament.

Maza also asked that bail of €6.2m be posted by the accused, in accordance with the estimated state funds which were illegaly funeled towards financing the referendum vote.