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Heavy gunfire has been heard inside the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament after protesters stormed the building.

The move by demonstrators - some of whom were seen brandishing clubs - came after president Masoud Barzani announced his resignation.

Gunshots were heard as protesters who claimed they were "Peshmerga" Kurdish fighters forced their way inside the building, they said.

Video footage shot at the scene and posted on Twitter appeared to confirm that sound of gunfire - and there are separate reports of gunfights breaking out near the building.

A Twitter account for the Supporters of the Movement for Change in Iraqi Kurdistan tweeted: "Kurdistan House of Parliament has fallen to Mob from #Barzani KDP - we have lost contact with our MPs, KNN Tv crew."

Another Twitter account reported "heavy gunfire inside the building" - and that at least two people had been killed - although that was not confirmed.

Other reports confirmed that journalists had been attacked by men brandishing 'sticks', 'clubs' or 'batons'.

Some MPs were still barricaded in their offices on Sunday evening.

Later on Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani said he would give up his position as president on Wednesday (November 1), after an independence referendum he championed backfired and triggered a regional crisis.

Some protesters outside the building later explained that they had wanted to "punish" MPs who they said had "insulted" Barzani. Some attacked journalists at the scene.