Adeze Ojukwu
The United Nations (UN) has condemned yesterday’s violent attack by protesters at the United States(US) Capitol in Washington DC.
“The Secretary-General is saddened by the events at the US Capitol in Washington DC, on Wednesday,” a spokesperson for António Guterres said, in response to questions from correspondents.
“In such circumstances, it is important that political leaders impress on their followers the need to refrain from violence, as well as to respect democratic processes and the rule of law.”
‘Several thousand protesters marched on the US Capitol, the heart of American democracy and home to the House of Representatives and the Senate, after being addressed by President Trump and his supporters outside the White House, who are continuing to make false claims of election rigging,’ UN news reported.
‘Law enforcement officers were overwhelmed, and amidst scenes of mob violence and clashes with police, seen across the world on television, one woman was reportedly shot and killed inside the Capitol.’
After the building was cleared and legislators resumed the certification hearings mid-evening, amidst an effort by a Republican minority to deny the victory of President-Elect Joe Biden, the Senate Majority Leader, Republican Mitch McConnell, described the mob violence as a “failed insurrection.”
Volkan Bozkir, President of the UN General Assembly also voiced his dismay at the scenes that unfolded on Capitol Hill.
In a tweet, Mr. Bozkir, said that the “US is one of the world’s major democracies.”
“I believe that peace and respect for democratic processes will prevail in our host country at this critical time”, he added.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international organization that promotes world-wide parliamentary dialogue and representative democracy, also denounced the violence.
“The IPU and the parliamentary community strongly condemn the violence and the assault on the US Capitol by protestors on Wednesday 6 January”, the body said in a statement.
“The integrity of this bastion of democracy and of the representatives of the people of the United States must be respected”, it urged.
Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General said he was “deeply dismayed” by the news of the violence.
“This is an unacceptable and disgraceful assault on democracy and its representatives,” he said.