Brussels, Dec 7 (AFP) A sea of around 45,000 pro-Catalonia protesters demonstrated in Brussels today to showsupport for the region's deposed president Carles Puigdemontand urge the EU to support its drive for independence fromSpain.
Demonstrators chanted "Wake up Europe!" and wavedCatalonia's red, yellow and blue Estelada separatist flag asthey marched past the European Union headquarters in theBelgian capital.
"We cannot abandon our president, who is in exile here,"Antoni Llenas, 59, a protester wearing a flag over hisshoulders, told AFP. "We are here to continue the struggle forour independence and to ask for the freedom of our politicalprisoners."Belgian police said on Twitter that there were anestimated 45,000 protesters, more than double the 20,000 thatorganisers said they originally expected. The rally beganpeacefully, according to AFP reporters on the scene.
Puigdemont and four former ministers fled to Brussels inNovember, saying they wanted to take their cause to theEuropean level after Spain charged them with sedition andrebellion over Catalonia's independence referendum in October.
On Monday, the Spanish government dropped a Europeanarrest warrant for the five, but Puigdemont said he would stayput for now as they still face arrest in Spain if they returnfor regional polls in Catalonia that Madrid has called forDecember 21.
Protesters arrived in a stream of coaches and camper vanswith Spanish registration plates, and gathered in theCinquantenaire Park in the city's European quarter before thestart of the march at 1030 GMT.
Children and families were among those who began themarch in high spirits despite the cold and rain.
Their route is taking them past the headquarters of theEuropean Commission and they will end up in a square betweenthe European Council and European Parliament.
The EU has strongly backed the Spanish government overthe Catalan issue, saying that it is an internal matter forMadrid. (AFP)CPS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.