The ousted president of Catalonia has handed himself into authorities in Belgium according to the country's State prosecutor's office.

On Friday, a Spanish judge issued European Arrest Warrants for Carles Puigdemont and the four members of his former Cabinet that fled to Brussels earlier in the week.

Belgian public broadcaster VRT said the five men handed themselves in on Sunday.

The Belgian State Prosecutor had been due to brief the media at 1pm.

The Catalan leaders are facing charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds in Spain following their unilateral declaration of independence on October 27th.

Under Belgian law, prosecutors are obliged to bring the suspects before a judge, who would then have 24 hours to decide whether to approve the arrest warrant.

Mr Puigdemont could potentially have been prevented from standing in the upcoming snap elections in the region if the warrant remained in force. 

A spokesperson for his political party has insisted they still expect him to stand as a candidate in the December 21st poll.

"We want President Puigdemont to be the person who leads the big offensive we will carry out on the 21st at the polls," said party spokeswoman Marta Pascal.

On Thursday, Supreme Court Judge Carmen Lamela jailed nine members of the former regional Parliament while the investigation continues.

One of the jailed politicians was released on bail the following day.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Barcelona on Friday, demanding the release of the eight former ministers who remain in custody.