Officials appointed by Spanish Prime Minister TAKE OVER Catalan government as police chief is sacked and armed officers guard the regional parliament after night of violence on streets of Barcelona

Ministers appointed by Spain's Prime Minister (left) today met for the first time since the central government imposed direct rule over Catalonia. Last night unionists clashed with separatists as tens of thousands of Catalans took to the streets and a pro-independence radio station was attacked with journalists forced to barricade themselves inside. Catalonia's regional police chief Josep Trapero (top inset) was removed from his post at 4am this morning amid concerns that local police would resist the national force as it imposes central government control on the region. It is feared a further descent into violence could be triggered if Catalonia's separatist executive refuses to take orders from Madrid and step down. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (bottom inset) has stripped the region's most senior police officials of their powers and taken control of Catalonia's civil service, finances and public media ahead of snap local elections announced for December 21. In Madrid this morning thousands of unionist protesters took to the street holding placards calling for Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont to be sent to prison (bottom right).