German prosecutors seek former Catalan president’s extradition

German prosecutors have asked a court to order the extradition to Spain of Catalonia’s ousted president Carles Puigdemont on a rebellion charge following his arrest in Germany last month.The request comes after demonstrations by independence supporters at the weekend in Berlin and Catalonia calling for Puigdemont’s release and a small rally yesterday outside his jail.“The prosecutor’s office of Schleswig-Holstein state applied for an extradition arrest warrant against former Catalonian regional president Carles Puigdemont from the superior regional court,” it said in a statement.Puigdemont was arrested by German police on March 25 as he was travelling from Finland back to Belgium, where he has been living since Catalonia’s failed independence bid last October.His detention came days after a Spanish judge issued European arrest warrants for Puigdemont and other separatist leaders.They have been ordered to stand trial for rebellion, misuse of public funds and disobeying the state for organising last year’s referendum.