Kosovo MPs elected foreign minister and former premier Hashim Thaci as president on Friday after a tense day of voting marred by protests inside parliament and on the streets.

The election commission said 81 MPs from the 120-seat parliament took part in the third round of the election, with 71 of them voting for Thaci.

"We conclude that Mr Hashim Thaci was elected president of the Republic of Kosovo for a term of five years," the commission said.