Donald Trumps supporters stormed a session of Congress which was being held to certify Joe Bidens election win with world leaders following the developments in Washington, DC, with concern.
Hours after an extraordinary rally by Trump challenging his defeat, flag-waving backers broke down barricades outside the Capitol and swarmed inside, with the special session going into an emergency recess as protesters entered the chambers.
The desperate last-minute bid by Trump to overturn his election loss sparked chaos and accusations of a coup attempt, with several countries calling on Trumps supporters to show calm and restraint.
Turkey
Turkeys foreign ministry called on all parties in the United States to use restraint and calm.
Turkey is monitoring worrying developments in the US, including attempts to storm the Capitol building, the ministry said in a statement. We believe that the US will overcome this domestic crisis calmly.
The statement also called on Turkish citizens in the US to stay away from crowded places and where demonstrations were being held.
Turkeys 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.
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. As Turkey, we have always been in favor of the law and democracy and we recommend it to everyone.
Prof. Dr. Mustafa entop (@MustafaSentop) January 6, 2021
NATO
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called for respect of the outcome of the election held in November last year.
Shocking scenes in Washington, DC, Stoltenberg tweeted. The outcome of this democratic election must be respected.
Shocking scenes in Washington, D.C. The outcome of this democratic election must be respected.
Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) January 6, 2021
Germany
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said democracys enemies would be cheered by scenes of violence at the US Capitol, and he called on Trump to accept US voters decision.
In a tweet posted after protesters stormed the seat of the US legislature, Maas said the violence had been caused by inflammatory rhetoric.
German Foreign Minister @HeikoMaas:
The enemies of democracy will rejoice at these incomprehensible images from #WashingtonDC. Inflammatory words turn to violent action on the steps of the Reichstag, and now in the #Capitolhttps://t.co/dHZHuw4NYo
Thomas Sparrow (@Thomas_Sparrow) January 6, 2021
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.
Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern about the violent scenes, saying Canada was concerned and were following the situation minute by minute.
I think the American democratic institutions are strong, and hopefully everything will return to normal shortly, Trudeau told the News 1130 Vancouver radio station.
United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the disgraceful scenes and urged a peaceful transition to Democrat Joe Bidens presidency.
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, Johnson said on Twitter.
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