Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has described the "unilateral declaration of independence of the Catalan regional parliament" as "not lawful".

It is important now to maintain peace and to engage in dialogue in order to relieve tensions, a statement from the ministry has said.

"The goal must be to find a solution under the Spanish constitution. At the same time, it is clear that violence can never be a solution," stressed Kurz in the statement.

The Spanish government stripped the region of its autonomy after its controversial independence vote in parliament Friday, effectively taking charge of its government.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced the dissolution of the regional parliament and the removal of the Catalan leader, with an official state bulletin handing control of Catalonia to Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria.

Snap elections were called in the region, which also saw its most senior police officials dismissed and demonstrations for and against independence running on into the night.