Catalonia will not bow to threats of violence from Madrid, the region's education minister has told STV News.

Clara Ponsati said the government in Barcelona would not "resign from its responsibilities" even in the face of Spain's "aggressive" reaction to the region's push for independence.

Her remarks come after a tumultuous period for Catalonia, including the violent suppression of Sunday's independence referendum.

Spanish riot police were filmed confiscating ballot boxes, firing rubber bullets and beating citizens with truncheons in images and videos shared widely on social media.

The scenes brought about international condemnation, including from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, putting pressure on Madrid.

Thoughts around the region have now turned to what comes next.

Spain's constitutional court has banned the Catalan parliament from meeting on Monday in a pre-emptive move to stop Catalan president Carles Puigdemont from declaring independence, as many expect him to.

Ponsati, who was seconded from her post at St Andrews University this summer to serve Puigdemont's government, was speaking to STV News in Barcelona on Friday.

She said: "The situation is difficult because the Spanish part is not behaving in what I would say is negotiation mode.

"They are being extremely aggressive. They were very violent on Sunday; they are threatening to remain violent.

"But can a democratic government just resign from its responsibilities because we're being threatened with violence? We cannot do that."

Both the Spanish and Catalan governments remain at an impasse over the region's status that many fear will lead to more violence.

But for the first time, earlier on Friday, Madrid made a tentative apology to Catalan citizens who were the victim of police violence on the day of the referendum, which Catalan officials say left 893 people injured.

Speaking on Catalan TV, the Spanish government's most senior representative in the region Enric Millo said: "When I saw those images, and knowing that people were hit [and] shoved ... all I can do is apologise on behalf of the officers who intervened."

However, Millo maintained the government line that the blame for the violence rested on the shoulders of Catalan ministers for holding the poll.

And Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy later demanded that Puigdemont shelve plans to unilaterally declare independence in order to "avoid greater evils". He did not elaborate.

Despite Spain's attempts to stop Sunday's vote, the Catalan government claims 42% of electors cast a ballot paper in the poll.

Of those who voted, almost 92% - more than two million people - marked their paper in favour of independence.