The Solomon Islands' capital Honiara has been placed under curfew after protesters attempted to storm the Pacific island nation's parliament, police said.
Police fired tear gas at the protesters, who had set alight buildings, partly burning down a police station and a hut near the parliament building, a police spokesman said.
He was unable to confirm whether the protest, held on Wednesday, was a failed attempt to topple Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
"A crowd formed in front of the parliament, I don't know the exact numbers but it was a huge crowd," he told AFP.
Videos on social media showed buildings on fire. Source: Supplied
"They intended to make the prime minister resign, that's the public speculation, but we're still investigating the motives.
"The important thing is police now have control of the situation and no one is out on the streets."
He said police were unaware of any injuries.
Canberra's official Smart Traveller advice service warned Australian nationals in the Solomons' capital to exercise care.
"The situation is evolving in Honiara with civil unrest. Please exercise care, remain where you are if it is safe to do so and avoid crowds," it said.
The protest began peacefully, but most schools and businesses in Honiara were closed by the afternoon as crowds tried to enter parliament while it was sitting, RNZ's Honiara correspondent Georgina Kekea said.
"A lot of Honiara residents were caught by surprise with what has happened," RNZ quoted Ms Kekea as saying.
"It has really disrupted operations ... and now people are not feeling safe anymore. Everyone's trying to run back to their homes now."
Videos on social media showed police firing tear gas to disperse looters, and buildings on fire. In addition to the burnt out police station, black smoke was seen rising from the parliament grounds after a leaf hut was set on fire, RNZ reported.
The violence reportedly involved a group of protesters who travelled to Honiara this week from the neighbouring island of Malaita.
They were demanding Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare step down over failure to deliver promised infrastructure among other complaints, RNZ said.
As well as anger about lack of development, the Solomons government has faced pressure over a 2019 decision to cut ties with Taiwan and establish a formal relationship with China.
Many communities in Malaita had forged deep ties with Taipei and the island's local government has repeatedly complained about embracing China.
Such inter-island tensions spurred unrest that led to the deployment of an Australian-led peacekeeping force from 2003 to 2017.
There was rioting following general elections in 2006, with much of Honiara's Chinatown razed amid rumours businesses with links to Beijing had rigged the vote.
Honiara-based lawmakers from Malaita issued a statement this week calling for protesters from their home island to refrain from violence.
"The devastating consequences that such actions will have on our people and future will take this country back 20 years," it said.
AFP contacted Mr Sogavare's office for comment.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters.
