Catalan president forms govt without jailed, exiled ministers

Catalonia's separatist president signed a decree today nominating an administration that no longer includes jailed and exiled former ministers who backed its independence push, his office said in a statement.

Quim Torra's previous choices had been criticised by Spain's central government as "a new provocation" which had refused to ratify them.

Madrid has vowed to maintain direct rule over Catalonia until a new regional government is in place.