Indonesian police have fired shots at protesters in the country's West Papua region.

The university students were protesting after being denied a permit to hold a demonstration outside the capital Manokwari.

A local TV station has shown footage of people hurling rocks at police and dozens of officers firing shots at the demonstrators.

There were scenes of police smashing up protesters' bikes and dragging people away.

Deputy police chief Brigadier General Paulus Waterpaw said police attempted to disperse the unauthorised protest by firing into the air.

But he said the demonstrators then turned on them with rocks, prompting police to fire back.

He said eight people, including four protesters and four officers, were in hospital with injuries.

Brigadier General Waterpaw added that he regretted the situation became violent.