REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Iceland’s embattled prime minister, facing accusations of conflict of interest because of offshore accounts, stepped aside Tuesday and proposed that the vice chairman of his party take over.

Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson became the first major figure forced out by a leak of more than 11 million financial documents from a Panamanian law firm showing the tax-avoidance arrangements of the rich and famous around the world.

Sigurdur Mar Jonsson, press secretary of the Icelandic government, said in a written statement Tuesday that Gunnlaugsson has suggested Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson, his Progressive Party’s vice chairman, takes over as prime minister for “an unspecified amount of time.”

Iceland’s president has not yet confirmed any changes to the leadership, and the situation remained muddled as hundreds of protesters gathered outside parliament to demand the ouster of Gunnlaugsson.

There were contradictions throughout the afternoon and evening as officials first said Gunnlaugsson had resigned as prime minister, statements that were later contradicted by the press secretary’s communique, which indicated he was only stepping down for a period of time. The statement also suggested that Gunnlaugsson would remain as party chairman. It was not clear if new elections would be held or if the governing coalition would be able to weather the crisis that developed several days ago with the release of what’s being called the Panama Papers.

The lack of a clear resolution angered some protesters, who blew whistles and banged on pots and pans in front of parliament.

“I’m here because the government still hasn’t resigned,” said store manager Elfar Petursson. “The finance minister and the interior minister are still sitting in parliament, they refuse to resign, they both have offshore accounts.”

Revelations in the Panama Papers about offshore accounts held by Gunnlaugsson and his wife have infuriated many residents who suffered during the financial collapse of 2008 and 2009. Gunnlaugsson has denied wrongdoing and said he has paid taxes and done nothing illegal regarding his offshore holdings.

The impact in Iceland from the leaks has been the most dramatic, but leading officials in Russia, Ukraine, China and other countries are also facing questions about possibly dubious offshore schemes used by the global elite.

The leaked documents allege that Gunnlaugsson and his wife set up a company called Wintris in the British Virgin Islands with the help of Mossack Fonseca, the Panamanian law firm. Gunnlaugsson is accused of a conflict of interest for failing to disclose his involvement in the company, which held interests in failed Icelandic banks that his government was responsible for overseeing.