Catalan President Kim Tora has called on the Spanish central government to engage in "unconditional talks", after five days of violent protests following the sentencing of separatist leaders in the region.

"We urge the prime minister to set a date today to sit at the negotiating table unconditionally," Tora, a pro-secessionist, told reporters on Saturday. "It is his responsibility and duty."

He pointed out that the recent events did not reflect the peaceful nature of Catalonia's independence movement, and said that "violence has not and will not be our way, neither in Barcelona nor in Tarragona, Lleida and Girona," referring to the cities that have been troubled in recent times.

Tora is seeking new negotiations with the central government to raise the question of a referendum on self-determination, which Madrid rejects.

The Spanish government said in a statement in response to Tora's call that it had "always been open to dialogue in the framework of respect for the law" and called on the president of Catalonia to "strongly condemn violence, which he has not yet done".

Dark night
On Friday, Barcelona witnessed the worst night of protests in decades, as masked youths blocked roads, set fire to rubbish bins and pelted security forces with stones. Police responded with tear gas and smoke.

Health authorities said 182 people across the province were injured in the clashes, including 152 in Barcelona. Seventeen police officers were taken to hospital for treatment.

Police said they had arrested 54 people on the fifth day of the clashes that erupted after Spain's Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan leaders involved in organizing a referendum on independence in 2017.

Acting Interior Minister Fernando Grande Marlaska said the separatists in Catalonia were responsible for the violence, adding that the security forces were handling the clashes in an appropriate manner.

"The situation is under control ... there is serious organized violence, but I repeat that we are not confused," Marlaska said after visiting injured police in the hospital.

Catalan President Kim Tora said last week the province would hold a new vote on independence from Spain in two years.