Masked protestors injure MPs in Macedonian parliament

By Kayhan Gul

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AA) - Masked protesters have injured several lawmakers sequestered some inside Macedonia's parliament Thursday, local news outlets reported.

The protesters demonstrating in front of the parliament building in the capital Skopje stormed the building after ethnic Albanian Talat Xhaferi was elected as the speaker of parliament.

Live television footage showed anti-Albanian protestors injuring the leader of the Social Democrats Zoran Zaev.

The majority coalition led by his party supported Xhaferi.

The demonstrations have been organized by the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE).

According to a source in the parliament building, whose identity has been withheld for his/her safety, an armed group has sequestered several journalists.

The source said over the phone several journalists were taken into a dark room.

The demonstrators asked the journalists which media outlet they worked for and two journalists were heavily beaten and bloodied, according to the source.

The tension is still ongoing inside and outside the building.