2nd Ld Writethru: At least 8 injured in clashes in Macedonian parliament

Seven people with head injuries and one suffering a knee injury were admitted in a hospital in Skopje so far after taking part in the clashes in the Macedonian parliament, medicals said on Thursday evening.

The number of injured is expected to be higher because some of the injured were taken to private medical centers.

News crews in the parliament report that the police presence is strengthened with special units and that the police used stunt devices to control the situation in the parliament building.

Protesters rushed into the building of the Macedonian parliament on Thursday afternoon after lawmakers from SDSM and the smaller Albanian parties elected Tallat Xhaferi from DUI as new Parliament Speaker, although previously the parliament session was concluded.

The live streams of the Macedonian media from the parliament building showed that some of the protesters supporting VMRO-DPMNE trapped the MPs from SDSM in one of the meeting halls and even attacking them.

Among the attacked was the leader of SDSM Zoran Zaev, who had visible physical injuries. The protesters against the new Government majority are on the streets of Skopje for the past two months, opposing the formation of the Government between SDSM and three Albanian parties -- DUI, Besa and the Alliance for the Albanians.

Tallat Xhaferi was elected with slim majority of 62 MPs (out of total 120). VMRO DPMNE called this election -- coup d'etat. The leader of VMRO-DPMNE Nikola Gruevski, who is currently in Austria, appealed for calmness through the social networks.

"We need calming of the situation. VMRO-DPMNE will oppose this anti-state steps through legal and political democratic measures," Gruevski wrote on Facebook.

The protesters are still in the parliament building occupying the halls. The Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov will address the nation on Thursday night. Endit