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Spanish government officials confirm that ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has traveled to Brussels following calls for charges to be brought against him and other regional leaders. Western media outlets report, Spain's state prosecutor has called for rebellion and sedition charges to be brought against Puigdemont and his No.2 official, Oriol Junqueras, over their push to separate from Spain.

Attorney-General Jose Manuel Maza also called for charges of misuse of funds to be laid.
Under Spain's legal system, the request goes to a judge for consideration. Maza asked the judge to call the secessionist leaders to testify.

The announcement came as Catalonia's civil servants returned to work for the first time since Spain dismissed the separatist regional government and imposed direct control. In addition to the sedition charges, Spain's government has said the fired leaders could be charged with usurping others' functions if they attempt to carry on working.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy assumed direct control of the region on Friday, sacked its secessionist government and called a snap election for December 21. However, some of the most prominent members of the Catalan administration, including Puigdemont and vice-president Junqueras, had said they would not accept the move and only the people of Catalonia could dismiss them.