Prosecutors have asked Spain's High Court to jail eight ex-members of the fired Catalan government for their involvement in October's "illegal" independence referendum.

The request came after nine ex-ministers were questioned at the National Court in Madrid on possible charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement.

Twenty regional politicians, including former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, were called to appear in court following the regional parliament's declaration of independence on 27 October.

Under Spanish law, the crimes are punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

The group summoned includes Mr Puigdemont's 13-member former Cabinet and six parliamentary board members.

But the ousted Catalan President, who travelled to Brussels with some of his ex-Cabinet members earlier this week, remains in Belgium.

Their failure to appear before the court could trigger arrest warrants and an extradition petition. Mr Puigdemont has denied he fled Spain to seek political asylum but said he was in the EU capital for "freedom and safety".

The president of Spain's Supreme Court, Carlos Lesmes, has said a Europe-wide arrest warrant will likely be issued for Mr Puigdemont.

In a statement the exiled Catalan government denounced the “political trial” as “without a legal basis that only seeks to punish ideas”.

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

Among those who did attend the court hearing in Madrid was Catalan ex-vice president Oriol Junqueras, the regional government’s spokesman, Jordi Turull, and Josep Rull, who handled the region's territorial affairs.

A parallel session in Spain’s Supreme Court to hear cases against six other Catalan MPs, including parliament speaker Carme Forcadell, has been postponed until next week.