Spain’s constitutional court has cancelled the Catalan declaration of independence.

It came as the Supreme Court said it had agreed to hear rebellion charges against Catalonia’s ousted leadership, including the former regional president Carles Puigdemont.

Others implicated include Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell, a longtime independence activist, and senior lawmakers from the region, a court spokesman said.

A total of six people face possible charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement.

The Supreme Court has called for Ms Forcadell and others to testify on Thursday and Friday this week.

Mr Puigdemont was at the head of the separatist push that saw deputies vote for independence last Friday after a tense week of negotiation and brinkmanship between Madrid and Barcelona.

It followed 1 October’s disputed referendum that had been deemed unlawful by Spain’s constitutional court.

A majority voted for secession but turnout was greatly reduced after a crackdown by Madrid.

Huge numbers of Catalans favour unity with Spain and Barcelona has seen large demonstrations in support of remaining part of the whole.

Mr Puigdemont and others face, potentially, decades in prison if convicted of rebellion.

Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Show all 17 1 /17 Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man faces off Spanish Civil Guards outside a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police form a security cordon around the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police evict a young woman during clashes between people gathered outside the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Spanish Civil Guard officers break through a door at a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Spanish National Police clash with pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona on Sunday AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Crowds raise their arms up as police move in on members of the public gathered outside to prevent them from voting in the referendum at a polling station where the President Carles Puigdemunt will vote later today Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters People confront Spanish Civil Guard officers outside a polling station Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Three man hold each other as they try to block a Spanish police van from approaching a polling station AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A woman shows a ballot to a Spanish Civil Guard officer outside a polling station Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man wearing a shirt with an Estelada (Catalan separatist flag) and holding carnations faces off with a Spanish Civil Guard officer Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Police try to control the area as people attempt to cast their ballot at a polling station in Barcelona Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man is grabbed by officers as police move in on the crowds Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Two women argue with a Spanish National policeman during clashes between Catalan pro-independence people and police forces at the Sant Julia de Ramis sports centre in Girona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Sant Julia De Ramis in Spain Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Confrontation outside a polling station in Barcelona, where police have tried to stop people voting AFP/Getty Images Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A Spanish National Police officer aims a rubber-bullet rifle at pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police clashed with voters as polls opened in Barcelona Sky News

Following the vote Spain’s senate voted to grant Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy new powers under article 155 of the constitution.

Mr Rajoy quickly sacked the Catalan government and ordered new elections on 21 December, promising to “restore legality” to the region.

At a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday, Mr Puigdemont said he would return home “immediately” if a fair judicial process were guaranteed in Spain.

“The situation is developing every day. Here we have better guarantees for our rights here and we can meet our obligations from here,” he said.