Spanish PM calls 'bodies on the streets' threats a lie

17-11-2017
Rudaw
Tags: Catalonia
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Alleged comments by Spanish government officials of leaving "bodies on the streets" are "intolerable" claims by officials in Catalonia, expressed Madrid.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dismissed comments on Friday from Catalan leftist politician Marta Rovira who claimed Spanish government sources had threatened to send troops into Catalonia if the region continues its independence push.

Rajoy said the claim of "bodies on the streets" was "an enormous lie" and "shameful."

He said that "in life, not everything goes," and that while people may defend their stances as they wish, this was "intolerable."

The people of Catalonia voted in favor of seceding from Spain on October 1. The binding referendum was approved by the parliament and independence was declared on October 27.

Madrid responded by dissolving the regional government and scheduling snap elections for December 21.

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and his ministers were stripped of their posts by the central government in Madrid.

Puigdemont and four ministers fled to Brussels and were arrested by Belgian officials. They now await an extradition court hearing scheduled for December 4.

The judge in the case heard jail conditions where Puigdemont would be held in Spain. 

Spain’s Interior Ministry confirmed that it had sent a document answering 14 questions sent by the prosecutor, regarding cell conditions, security guarantees, recreation, hygiene and food at the jails to which Puigdemont and four of his ex-cabinet ministers with him in Brussels would be sent.

Most European nations have supported the central government’s crackdowns following Catalonia’s independence quest.

Puigdemont believes the independence vote embodies the democratic values espoused by European nations.

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