The National Audience summoned the 14 to appear in court in Madrid on Thursday and Friday and gave them three days to pay a combined deposit against potential penalties of 6.2 million euros (S$9.8 million).

Puigdemont and several of his former ministers travelled to Belgium after they were dismissed by Madrid on Friday as the central government took direct control of the semi-autonomous region whose parliament had just declared unilateral independence.

On Monday, Spain's chief prosecutor said he was seeking charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds against them.

Puigdemont appeared in a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday, saying he was still the "legitimate president" of Catalonia but denying he was seeking asylum.

If Puigdemont and his former ministers refuse to appear in court as requested, Spanish prosecutors could order their arrest.