Fresh gunfire reported in ​Kazakhstan city gripped by unrest

Fresh gunshots have erupted in Kazakhstan's largest city, as the president says order has been largely restored after days of anti-government demonstrations and a violent crackdown, BBC News reports.

Reports say gunfire was heard near the main square of Almaty, the epicentre of protests sparked by a fuel price hike.

The interior ministry says 26 "armed criminals" and 18 security officers have been killed in days of unrest.

Russian-led forces arrived in the country at the president's request.

The internet is down, and little independent information is coming through. Armoured personal carriers and troops were seen in the main square of Almaty on Friday, Reuters news agency reports.

More than 3,000 people have been arrested, the interior ministry said, and local media say 70 checkpoints have been set up across the country.

In a statement on Friday, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said "constitutional order [had] largely been restored in all regions of the country" and that "local authorities [were] in control of the situation".

As the protests escalated, President Tokayev appealed to the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) for support. The bloc includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan and Armenia.

The overseas force reportedly sent about 2,500 soldiers to Kazakhstan. The CSTO says the troops are a peacekeeping force and will protect state and military installations. They will stay in the country for several days or weeks, the Russian RIA news agency reports.