Spain is facing a political and constitutional crisis after Catalans voted in favour of independence in a contested referendum that descended into chaos when police launched a widespread and violent crackdown.
The Catalan government said it had earned the right to independence from Spain after results showed 90 per cent of those who voted were in favour of a split, reports CNN.
But amid an unexpectedly harsh response from Spanish police to the vote, turnout was only around 42 per cent.
The Catalan health ministry said 893 people were injured in clashes as riot police raided polling stations, dragged away voters and fired rubber bullets.
The European Union backed the embattled Spanish government Monday, which insists the result is invalid as the referendum was ruled illegal by Spain's top court.
Trade unions in Catalonia called a strike and a mass demonstration for Tuesday, an action likely to test public support for the Catalan government in the aftermath of Sunday's chaos. The Catalan government called for the Guardia Civil, the militarised national law enforcement agency, to leave the province.
