Spain withdraws warrants against ousted Catalan President Carles

Spain Dec 05: A Spanish judge has withdrawn the arrest warrants for ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and four other ex-ministers.

Spanish Supreme Court judge Pablo Llareno announced the warrant's withdrawal on Tuesday morning, citing the willingness the Catalan leaders had shown to return ahead of fresh regional elections being held on 21 December.

The European warrant issued against Carles was cited as a complication in the Spanish legal probe.

The judge said that its removal will give full control to Spain over the investigation.

The ministers turned themselves into Belgian authorities after the warrant was issued last month, but were freed after being questioned.