The president of Macedonia has made an appeal to the nation for calm, after scores of protesters, many wearing masks, stormed the country's parliament late on Thursday night.

Shouting and throwing chairs, they attacked lawmakers in protest at the election of an Albanian parliament speaker despite the country's long stalemate in the formation of a new government.

President Gjorge Ivanov said in a televised address that the election had "violated" the constitution, but nonetheless called appealed for "for reasonable and responsible behaviour".

Police used flash grenades in clashes with protesters outside the parliament building after the assault.

Authorities say 77 people have been injured in the clashes inside and outside parliament.