Catalonia's ousted president has said he will not seek asylum in Belgium after Spain threatened to charge him with offences that could put him in prison for decades.

Carles Puigdemont said he had travelled to Brussels for "freedom and safety" and vowed to return "immediately" if Spain guaranteed a fair judicial process.

He spoke as Spain's constitutional court suspended Friday's declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament, and the supreme court said it had started proceedings against parliamentary officials over their role in the disputed referendum held on 1 October.

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Image: Customers in a Barcelona bar watch Carles Puigdemont's speech on TV

Spain's attorney general has called for charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds to be brought against Mr Puigdemont and 13 other separatist leaders.


Accusing the Spanish government of "extreme aggression," Mr Puigdemont - who has been joined in Belgium by five of his sacked ministers - said the request showed "a desire, not for justice, but for vengeance".

He said the group would stay in Belgium "as long as we consider it (necessary)".

Thousands join pro-unity march in Catalan capital Barcelona

He added: "The situation is developing every day. We have better guarantees for our rights here and we can meet our obligations."

He added: "If they [Spanish authorities] can guarantee to all of us, and to me in particular, a just, independent process, with the separation of powers that we have in the majority of European nations, if they guarantee that, we would return immediately."

The regional parliament's independence declaration prompted the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to take the unprecedented step of using Article 155 of the constitution to sack Mr Puigdemont and his government and impose direct rule.

The move has seen Madrid take control of Catalonia's civil service, police force and finances and call a snap election on 21 December, which could see as many as 150 of the region's top officials replaced.

Mr Puigdemont said he welcomed the challenge of an election "with all our strength".

He said: "I want a clear commitment from the state. Will the state respect the results that could give separatist forces a majority?"

Belgian prime minister Charles Michel said Mr Puigdemont would be "treated like any other European citizen".

The ousted government's presence could cause headaches for Mr Michel, who governs in coalition with Flemish separatists sympathetic to the Catalan cause.

Separately on Tuesday, Spain's civil guard police force searched the headquarters of Catalonia's regional police.