Shots were heard early Friday around Burkina Faso's presidential palace, witnesses told AFP. 

Several main roads in the capital Ouagadougou were blocked by troops and state television was cut, broadcasting a blank screen saying: "no video signal", AFP journalists said. 

"I heard heavy detonations around 4:30 a.m. (0430 GMT) and now the roads around my home have been sealed off by military vehicles," a resident who lives close to the presidential palace told AFP. 

Burkina Faso's military leader Paul-Henri Damiba accused certain army units of creating a "confused situation", adding that discussions were ongoing to restore calm following heavy gunfire that raised fears of a coup, a statement on the presidency's Facebook said.

However, heavy fighting happened again in Burkina Faso's capital, hours after the statement.

On January 24, former Burkinabe President Roch Marc Christian Kabore was overthrown in a coup.

(With input from agencies)