Protesters clashed with police during unrest sweeping Indonesia on Thursday (October 8) over controversial new employment laws.

Footage shows the crowd being held back by riot squads with shields in Yogyakarta Province.

One the same day, witnesses allegedly saw a group throwing Molotov cocktails at the Legian Resto in Malioboro.

One protester said: "The smell of gasoline and kerosene wafted around the burning restaurant."

The fire grew rapidly and burned almost all parts of the restaurant building. Firefighters were deployed to the scene to extinguish the fire.

The restaurant is located to the south of the Yogyakarta regional parliament building, the point of the protest which was heavily guarded by police. The crowd also clashed with police officers.

Yogyakarta City Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Purwadi Wahyu Anggoro, said he has not been able to confirm the cause of the fire.

He said: "We do not know or can confirm whether it was burned with Molotov cocktails or not. We will investigate it. When the fire broke out, the police were inside the parliament building area."

Several police vehicles were also damaged and some caught fire.

The policeman said: "Some police officers were also injured. The number of vehicles damaged and people injured cannot be detailed."

Riots have erupted across Indonesia and in the capital Jakarta this week after a new "omnibus law" on employment was passed, which protesters claim will threaten workers' rights and the environment.

However, ministers claim the changes are needed to ease the bureaucracy and increase investment as the country struggles from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.