World stunned by violence in US Capitol, attempts to overturn election

Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/01/07/capitol_1.jpg"/><figcaption>Police officers stand guard as supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021.<em> Leah Millis, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>WASHINGTON - World leaders on Wednesday expressed shock at the violent protesters who overran the U.S. Congress and attempts to overturn the Nov. 3 presidential election results which dealt a victory to Democratic challenger Joe Biden.</p><p>Police in the U.S. Capitol responded with drawn guns and tear gas as hundreds of protesters stormed in and sought to force Congress to undo President Donald Trump&#x27;s election loss shortly after some of Trump&#x27;s fellow Republicans launched a last-ditch effort to throw out the results.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/07/21/pro-trump-demonstrators-storm-us-capitol">Guns and teargas in US Capitol as Trump supporters attempt to overturn his loss</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KF9cBtnKT8Q?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Here are reactions from around the world:</p><div><strong>SWEDEN</strong></div><p>Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in a tweet described the incidents as &quot;an attack on democracy&quot;. &quot;President Trump and many members of Congress bear significant responsibility for what&#x27;s now taking place. The democratic process of electing a president must be respected.&quot;</p><div><strong>UNITED KINGDOM</strong></div><p>British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a tweet described the scenes in the U.S. Congress as a &quot;disgrace&quot;, saying the United States stood for democracy around the world and that was it was &quot;vital&quot; now that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power.</p><div><strong>GERMANY</strong></div><p>German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said democracy&#x27;s enemies would be cheered by scenes of violence at the United States Capitol, and he called on Trump to accept U.S. voters&#x27; decision.</p><p>In a Tweet posted after protesters stormed the seat of the U.S. legislature, Maas said the violence had been caused by inflammatory rhetoric. &quot;Trump and his supporters must accept the decision of American voters at last and stop trampling on democracy.&quot;</p><div><strong>RUSSIA</strong></div><p>&quot;Quite Maidan-style pictures are coming from DC,&quot; Russia&#x27;s deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy posted on Twitter, referring to protests in Ukraine that toppled Russian-backed President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich in 2014.</p><p>&quot;Some of my friends ask whether someone will distribute crackers to the protesters to echo Victoria Nuland stunt,&quot; he said, citing a 2013 visit to Ukraine when then-U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland offered food to protesters.</p><div><strong>NATO</strong></div><p>NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the violent protests in Washington &quot;shocking scenes&quot; and said the outcome of the democratic U.S. election must be respected.</p><div><strong>SPAIN</strong></div><p>Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a tweet: &quot;I am following with concern the news that are coming from Capitol Hill in Washington. I trust in the strength of America&#x27;s democracy.</p><p>&quot;The new Presidency of @JoeBiden will overcome this time of tension, uniting the American people.&quot;</p><div><strong>CANADA</strong></div><p>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern about the violent scenes in Washington. &quot;Obviously we&#x27;re concerned and we&#x27;re following the situation minute by minute,&quot; Trudeau told the News 1130 Vancouver radio station. &quot;I think the American democratic institutions are strong, and hopefully everything will return to normal shortly.&quot;</p><p>Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Twitter: &quot;Canada is deeply shocked by the situation in Washington DC. The peaceful transition of power is fundamental to democracy - it must continue and it will. We are following developments closely and our thoughts are with the American people.&quot;</p><div><strong>FINLAND</strong></div><p>Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a statement: &quot;The attack on Capitol Hill in Washington DC is a very serious and worrying matter. It shows how important it is to firmly and strongly defend democracy at all times.&quot;</p><div><strong>TURKEY</strong></div><p>Turkey&#x27;s foreign ministry issued a statement expressing concern about the violence and called for calm and common sense while urging its citizens to avoid crowds and the protest area.</p><div><strong>FRANCE</strong></div><p>French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Twitter: &quot;The violence against the American institutions is a grave attack on democracy. I condemn it. The will and the vote of the American people must be respected.&quot;</p><div><strong>EUROPEAN UNION</strong></div><p>Charles Michel, chairman of EU leaders, on Twitter expressed his shock at the scenes in Washington. &quot;The US Congress is a temple of democracy...We trust the US to ensure a peaceful transfer of power to @JoeBiden&quot;</p><p>European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: &quot;I believe in the strength of US institutions and democracy. Peaceful transition of power is at the core. @JoeBiden won the election. I look forward to working with him as the next President of the USA.&quot;</p><div><strong>VENEZUELA</strong></div><p>Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza tweeted: &quot;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.&quot;</p><div><strong>(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Michelle Nichols and Reuters bureaux; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)</strong></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/07/21/trump-tells-supporters-to-stay-peaceful-as-protesters-storm-us-capitol">Trump tells supporters to &#x27;stay peaceful&#x27; as protesters storm US Capitol</a></li></ul>

<p>WASHINGTON - World leaders on Wednesday expressed shock at the violent protesters who overran the U.S. Congress and attempts to overturn the Nov. 3 presidential election results which dealt a victory to Democratic challenger Joe Biden.<br /> </p>

WASHINGTON - World leaders on Wednesday expressed shock at the violent protesters who overran the U.S. Congress and attempts to overturn the Nov. 3 presidential election results which dealt a victory to Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

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World stunned by violence in US Capitol, attempts to overturn election

World stunned by violence in US Capitol, attempts to overturn election

Reuters

Published Jan 07, 2021 07:02 AM PHT

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