US condemns attack on Macedonian Parliament

The United States has condemned the violent attacks on members of the Macedonian parliament following the election of Talat Xhaferi as Speaker of Parliament.

Mark C. Toner, Spokesperson, Deputy Department of State in a statement on Friday, said that the US government will work with the new Speaker to support democracy and to help Macedonia move forward on its European path.

“Violence has no place in the democratic process.

“We express our deepest sympathies to those Members of Parliament injured in the attacks and their families.

“The United States calls on Macedonian authorities to ensure the security of all Members of Parliament, to investigate the attack thoroughly, and to hold accountable those who committed acts of violence.”

Mr Toner, however, urged all parties to remain calm, resolve any differences peacefully, and respect Macedonia’s laws and democratic processes.

NEWSVERGE reports that protesters stormed the Macedonia’s parliament on Thursday after an ethnic Albanian was elected as the speaker with no fewer than 10 people, including the Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev, were injured.

The protesters, supporters of ex-Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski’s VMRO party, are demanding new elections.

Politics in the former Yugoslav republic has been deadlocked since an inconclusive election in December.

But the crisis goes back further, to a phone-tapping scandal two years ago.

Mr Zaev has created a coalition with ethnic Albanian parties, but his attempts to form a government have been blocked by the president.

Macedonian nationalists have been protesting on the streets since Mr Zaev tried to form the coalition.