Gunmen stormed the Libyan parliament on Sunday and raided lawmakers' offices, a deputy said.

Lawmaker Omar Bushah told Reuters gunmen had entered the General National Congress (GNC) and set the building on fire.

State news agency Lana said unidentified gunmen had closed the streets leading to parliament. Gunfire rang out through several parts of Tripoli.

Irregular forces commanded by retired Libyan General Khalifa Haftar claimed responsibility for the gun attack on parliament.

"These are members of the Libyan National Army," Mohamed Al-Hejazi, spokesman for the group said, using the name of the irregular forces commanded by the renegade general which are engaged in fighting militant Islamists in the eastern city of Benghazi. - Reuters