'Stop trampling on democracy': World leaders condemn storming of US Capitol
World leaders condemned the "disgraceful" scenes in Washington on Wednesday, where pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol building causing lawmakers to recess the congressional certification of President-elect Joe Biden's 2020 election win.
The violence erupted after President Donald Trump told to his supporters near the White House to "not give up the fight", and repeated his false claim that he won November's election.
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"We will never give up. We will never concede," Trump said.
"It will never happen. You don't concede when there's theft involved. Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore."
As Trump's supporters amassed outside the US Capitol, an angry mob broke away and forced themselves into the building - reaching as far as the House floor - in an attempt to interrupt Congress's count of electoral votes to certify Biden's win.
Law enforcement drew their firearms inside the House chamber, appearing to point them at demonstrators outside the door leading into the room.
CNN reported that one person was shot dead during the clashes. National Guard troops were later deployed and a citywide curfew was imposed.
'The enemies of democracy'
NATO ally Turkey, which has often been at odds with the Trump administration, expressed concern over the incident and urged all parties to use "moderation and common sense."
"Turkey is monitoring worrying developments in the US, including attempts to storm the Capitol building,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. "We believe that the US will overcome this domestic crisis calmly."
Turkey's Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop said on Twitter: "We follow the events in the USA with concern and invite the parties to calmness. We believe that problems will always be solved within law and democracy."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has previously said that Israel had "never had a better friend in the White House" than Trump said he had "no doubt that American democracy will prevail".
"The rampage at the Capitol yesterday was a disgraceful act that must be vigorously condemned," he said.
"Lawlessness and violence are the opposite of the values we know Americans and Israelis cherish."
'Trump and his supporters must accept the decision of American voters at last and stop trampling on democracy'
- Heiko Maas, German Foreign Minister
Venezuela, which has been subject to debilitating US sanctions, condemned the incident with Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza tweeting: "Venezuela expresses its concern for the violent events that are taking place in the city of Washington, USA; condemns the political polarization and hopes that the American people will open a new path toward stability and social justice."
Singling out Trump, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas blamed the violence on inflammatory rhetoric. "The enemies of democracy will be delighted at these terrible images from Washington DC," he wrote on Wednesday.
"Trump and his supporters must accept the decision of American voters at last and stop trampling on democracy."
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg also held the US president personally responsible, saying: "What we are now seeing from Washington is a completely unacceptable attack on democracy in the United States. President Trump is responsible for stopping this. Scary pictures, and amazing that this is the United States."
Disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress. The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 6, 2021
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has had a cordial relationship with the president, called for an end to the "disgraceful scenes in US Congress".
"The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power," he wrote on Twitter.
Canada's PM Justin Trudeau meanwhile said he was monitoring the situation closely.
"Obviously we're concerned and we're following the situation minute by minute," Trudeau told the News 1130 Vancouver radio station. “I think the American democratic institutions are strong, and hopefully everything will return to normal shortly."
European Union High Representative Josep Borrell described it as "an unseen assault on US democracy, its institutions and the rule of law."
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