WORLD LEADERS APPALLED BY RIOTING SPURRED BY TRUMP

Teargas and bullets in the US Capitol building. Outrage and condemnation from leaders across the world, who have appealed to US President Donald Trump to concede and transfer power to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, Foster Klug reported for the Associated Press (AP).

“What is happening is wrong,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a statement Thursday. “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.”

Irish Foreign and Defense Minister Simon Coveney swaid on Twitter: “We must call this out for what it is: a deliberate assault on Democracy by a sitting President & his supporters, attempting to overturn a free & fair election! The world is watching!”

Australians were urged to avoid U.S. protests following what Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described as “rather disturbing scenes” in the United States. “The riots and protests that we’ve seen in Washington, D.C., have been terribly distressing. They are very concerning,” Morrison told reporters shortly after the U.S. Congress resumed proceedings late Wednesday Washington time.

The Chinese Embassy in the United States also warned its citizens about the “grave” situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and the “large scale protest march” in Washington that prompted the city government to impose a curfew.

“Disgraceful scenes in US Congress,” tweeted Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, a staunch U.S. ally for generations.

“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.” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Twitter:

“Trump and his supporters should finally accept the decision of the American voters and stop trampling on democracy… From inflammatory words come violent deeds. Contempt for democratic institutions has disastrous effects.”

WEEKLY FEATURE : JOSE MARI CHAN AND THE CHRISTMAS ANTHEM