Catalan's ousted leader Carles Puigdemont will ignore a court order to return to Spain to answer charges over the region's push for independence, his lawyer has said.

If Mr Puigdemont fails to answer the High Court summons, an arrest warrant could be issued that would make it virtually impossible for him to stand in a snap regional election called by the Spanish government for 21 December.

His lawyer said he could testify from Belgium.

Catalonia Spain PM Rajoy asks Senate for powers to depose Catalan president Puigdemont

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Mr Puigdemont and his government on Friday, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence - a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts.

On Monday, Spain's state prosecutor filed charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds against Mr Puigdemont for defying the central government by holding an referendum on secession on 1 October and later proclaiming independence.

Catalan pro-unity demonstration – in pictures Show all 6 1 /6 Catalan pro-unity demonstration – in pictures Catalan pro-unity demonstration – in pictures Pro-unity supporters take part in a demonstration in central Barcelona. Hundreds of thousands of Catalans took to the streets of Barcelona on Sunday to call for their region to remain part of Spain, two days after regional lawmakers exacerbated a political crisis by voting for the wealthy region to secede Reuters/Jon Nazca Catalan pro-unity demonstration – in pictures A woman with the Senera and Spanish flags painted on her face shouts slogans as she takes part in a rally against Catalonia's declaration of independence, in Barcelona AP Photo/Gonzalo Arroyo Catalan pro-unity demonstration – in pictures Thousands of pro-unity protesters gather in Barcelona, two days after the Catalan parliament voted to split from Spain Jeff J Mitchell/Gett Catalan pro-unity demonstration – in pictures People support a pro-unity demonstration from their balconies in central Barcelona Reuters/Rafael Marchante Catalan pro-unity demonstration – in pictures Pro-unity supporters take part in a demonstration in central Barcelona Reuters/Yves Herman Catalan pro-unity demonstration – in pictures Protesters wave Spanish flags and carry banners during a pro-unity demonstration on in Barcelona Jack Taylor/Getty

Mr Puigdemont travelled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer.

The High Court summoned Mr Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on the prosecutor's charges.

A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take several years and potentially lead to a trial. The judge might also grant them conditional bail or order them to surrender their passports.

If he his associates do not turn up, the judge might also order them jailed as a flight risk.