Spanish prosecutor opposes freeing leaders in pre-trial jail

The Spanish general prosecutor has opposed freeing the nine pro-independence leaders in pre-trial jail, including Catalonia's former vice president Oriol Junqueras.

They had all requested to be released shortly after the German judiciary rejected rebellion charges for former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont last week.

In a joint press conference, their lawyers also called on the prosecutor to lower the charges against them.

In this latest move, the Spanish prosecutor keeps with the same line as in the last months. Now, it is up to the Supreme Court to decide whether to accept the inmates' petition or agree with the prosecutor.

Two of the leaders have already spent nine months behind bars, with all the rest having been incarcerated between four and eight months.