World Reacts to Mob at US Capitol
2021-01-08
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1Leaders around the world expressed shock and concern as a pro-Trump mob attacked and occupied the U.S. Capitol Building, where Congress meets.
2The attack took place as lawmakers were counting electoral votes to make President-elect Joe Biden's election win official.
3The event, which takes place every four years on January 6, is the final step in confirming the winner of a presidential election.
4At least four people died in connection with the attack.
5The violence forced Congress to suspend its meeting and move lawmakers and others to safety.
6Those lawmakers included Vice President Mike Pence, who presides over the count.
7Congress confirmed Biden's victory in the early hours of January 7, after the rioters were removed and the Capitol building was secured.
8"What happened today in Washington, D.C., is not America," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a video message on Twitter late Wednesday.
9"We believe in the strength of our democracies. We believe in the strength of American democracy."
10German Chancellor Angela Merkel partly blamed President Donald Trump for the situation because he has not admitted he lost the election.
11"A fundamental rule in democracy is that, after elections, there are winners and losers," Merkel said, adding that both sets have to act responsibly "so that democracy itself remains the winner."
12British Prime Minister Boris called the event "disgraceful."
13He wrote on Twitter, "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."
14The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, tweeted: "The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests."
15In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tweeted: "Democracy - the right of people to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully - should never be undone by a mob."
16Countries that often face U.S. criticism over violations of democratic values also reacted.
17Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said the attack proved the weakness of Western democracy.
18Iran's pro-government Twitter accounts published images of the mob attack with hashtags that included #DownfalloftheUS.
19Chinese officials compared the storming of the Capitol to the often-violent pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
20Those protests have slowed because of the coronavirus crisis and the government's use of severe security measures.
21A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said: "We also wish that U.S. people can enjoy peace, stability and security as soon as possible."
22Images taken from inside the Capitol show the attackers breaking windows, damaging lawmakers' chambers and offices, and attacking police officers.
23One attacker was shot inside the Capitol and later died at a local hospital.
24Three other people died in the attack.
25The Capitol Building is an internationally recognized structure and a symbol of American democracy. Violence at the site is extremely rare.
26Shariman Lockman is a senior foreign policy and security studies expert with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia.
27He told VOA the riot "doesn't put America in the best light."
28"It just compounds negative thoughts that people already have about America," Lockman said.
29"You know, you can't get COVID right, and you can't get your elections right. You [the U.S. government] keep telling us how to organize ourselves, but you can't organize yourselves right."
30In a televised speech Thursday, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said the events at the Capitol were evidence that Western democracy is easily damaged by populism.
31Rohani added he hoped "the next occupants of the White House" will "restore the country to a position worthy of the American nation, because the American nation is a great nation."
32I'm Ashley Thompson.
1Leaders around the world expressed shock and concern as a pro-Trump mob attacked and occupied the U.S. Capitol Building, where Congress meets. 2The attack took place as lawmakers were counting electoral votes to make President-elect Joe Biden's election win official. The event, which takes place every four years on January 6, is the final step in confirming the winner of a presidential election. 3At least four people died in connection with the attack. 4The violence forced Congress to suspend its meeting and move lawmakers and others to safety. Those lawmakers included Vice President Mike Pence, who presides over the count. 5Congress confirmed Biden's victory in the early hours of January 7, after the rioters were removed and the Capitol building was secured. 6"What happened today in Washington, D.C., is not America," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a video message on Twitter late Wednesday. "We believe in the strength of our democracies. We believe in the strength of American democracy." 7German Chancellor Angela Merkel partly blamed President Donald Trump for the situation because he has not admitted he lost the election. 8"A fundamental rule in democracy is that, after elections, there are winners and losers," Merkel said, adding that both sets have to act responsibly "so that democracy itself remains the winner." 9British Prime Minister Boris called the event "disgraceful." He wrote on Twitter, "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." 10The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, tweeted: "The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests." 11In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tweeted: "Democracy - the right of people to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully - should never be undone by a mob." 12Countries that often face U.S. criticism over violations of democratic values also reacted. 13Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said the attack proved the weakness of Western democracy. Iran's pro-government Twitter accounts published images of the mob attack with hashtags that included #DownfalloftheUS. 14Chinese officials compared the storming of the Capitol to the often-violent pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Those protests have slowed because of the coronavirus crisis and the government's use of severe security measures. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said: "We also wish that U.S. people can enjoy peace, stability and security as soon as possible." 15Images taken from inside the Capitol show the attackers breaking windows, damaging lawmakers' chambers and offices, and attacking police officers. One attacker was shot inside the Capitol and later died at a local hospital. Three other people died in the attack. 16The Capitol Building is an internationally recognized structure and a symbol of American democracy. Violence at the site is extremely rare. 17Shariman Lockman is a senior foreign policy and security studies expert with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia. He told VOA the riot "doesn't put America in the best light." 18"It just compounds negative thoughts that people already have about America," Lockman said. "You know, you can't get COVID right, and you can't get your elections right. You [the U.S. government] keep telling us how to organize ourselves, but you can't organize yourselves right." 19In a televised speech Thursday, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said the events at the Capitol were evidence that Western democracy is easily damaged by populism. Rohani added he hoped "the next occupants of the White House" will "restore the country to a position worthy of the American nation, because the American nation is a great nation." 20I'm Ashley Thompson. 21Ashley Thompson adapted this story based on reports by VOA News, Reuters and The Associated Press. Caty Weaver was the editor. 22_____________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24disgraceful - adj. related to causing someone to feel ashamed 25vital - adj. extremely important 26transfer - n. the act or process of giving the property or rights of one person to another person 27allow - v. to permit 28stability - n. the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change 29compound - v. to make (something, such as an error or problem) worse : to add to (something bad) 30negative - adj. harmful or bad : not wanted