FOUR imprisoned Catalan independence leaders have given up their hunger strike after almost three weeks.

Jordi Sànchez, Jordi Turull, Joaquim Forn and Josep Rull had refused food in protest at what they saw as the obstruction of their cases by Spain’s Constitutional Court, which had denied them access to the European courts.

Journalist Pilar Calvo, a spokesperson for the four prisoners, made the announcement a short time ago in Barcelona.

She said the decision had been taken this morning.

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Sànchez and Turull first refused food 20 days ago and were joined three days later by Forn and Rull.

Five days ago Turull was moved to the infirmary at Lledoners prison, where he continued to fast.

Since they started their action, the Constitutional Court has begun considering some of the 30 or so cases the jailed leaders have submitted and they consider that they have achieved some of their objectives, in particular putting shining an international spotlight on their plight.