Catalan leaders seek to secure jail release

Three backers of Catalonia’s independence have sought to secure release from jail for their role in the region’s push to break from Spain which triggered the country’s worst political crisis in decades.

Former Catalan interior minister Joaquim Forn, Jordi Sanchez, a member of the pro-independence National Catalan Assembly civic group, and Catalan activist Jordi Cuixart made their case for release from provisional jail to a Supreme Court judge.

Mr Forn was one of several regional ministers jailed on provisional charges of rebellion after the Catalan parliament unilaterally - and unsuccessfully declared the region’s independence on 27 October. The move prompted the Spanish government in Madrid to dissolve the regional parliament and call fresh elections that were held last month.