Nine pardoned Catalan leaders walk free from prison

Jordi Cuixart, one of the Catalan leaders imprisoned for their role in the 2017 push for an independent Catalan republic, outside Lledoners prison near Barcelona in Spain on Wednesday (Joan Mateu/AP)

Nine Catalan separatists pardoned by the Spanish government walked out of prison on Wednesday to the cheers of supporters.

The men left behind them their lengthy terms for organising a bid four years ago to make Catalonia an independent republic.