Daily US Times: Leaders around the world have reacted with disquiet and shock to the turmoil in Washington DC and US Capitol on Wednesday, with the head of Nato deploring what he called “shocking scenes”.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general and the former PM of Norway, said: “The outcome of this democratic election must be respected,”
On Wednesday, Mr Stoltenberg, tweeted after US president-elect Joe Biden condemned “this godawful display” and warned: “The world is watching.”
The Irish taoiseach, Micheál Martin, tweeted: “The Irish people have a deep connection with the United States of America, built up over many generations. I know that many, like me, will be watching the scenes unfolding in Washington DC with great concern and dismay.”
Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister, tweeted, “Inflammatory words turn into violent acts – on the steps of the Reichstag, and now in the #Capitol.”
He urged President Donald Trump and his supporters to “finally accept the decision of the American voters and stop trampling democracy”.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Foreign Minister, said on Twitter: “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.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain condemned what he called the “disgraceful scenes in US Congress”.
He said: “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.”
“The US rightly takes great pride in its democracy, and there can be no justification for these violent attempts to frustrate the lawful and proper transition of power,” Dominic Raab, the UK foreign secretary, tweeted.
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon called the chaotic scenes in the US Capitol “utterly horrifying” and an “attack on democracy”.
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