Reuters, Madrid :
The trial of 12 political leaders from the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia began in Madrid on Tuesday as tensions rose between those supporting the defendants and the right to secession and those calling Spain to remain united.
The defendants, facing charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds for their role in Catalonia’s failed independence declaration, will not speak in the Supreme Court on the first day of the trial, which is reserved for procedural issues.
The historic trial of 12 Catalan separatist leaders involved in a bid to secede from Spain that plunged the country into crisis starts on Tuesday as tensions over the future of the wealthy territory flare again.
The proceedings, which begin at 10 am (0900 GMT) at Spain’s Supreme Court in Madrid, will be broadcast live on television. Over 600 journalists from 150 domestic and foreign media are accredited.
