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    Separatist Catalan Leaders, Now In Brussels, Deny Seeking Asylum Abroad

    Catalonia's ousted leader, Carles Puigdemont, said Tuesday that he and several ministers left "to avoid the threats." Hours later, a Spanish judge summoned them for interrogation in a sedition probe.
    by Colin Dwyer Oct 31, 2017 2 minutes
    Catalonia's deposed leader, Carles Puigdemont (center), speaks at a news conference in Brussels on Tuesday with other members of his dismissed government. / AURORE BELOT / Getty Images

    Updated at 2:37 p.m. ET

    Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont says he and several of his fellow politicians might have fled Spain for Belgium, but they have no intention of seeking political asylum there.

    Rather, he told a news conference in Brussels on Tuesday, they had "decided to err on the side Friday, then saw Spain retaliate by taking over direct rule and announcing sedition charges against Catalan leaders.

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