ROME, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Italian authorities reacted to the scenes of violence in Washington, where supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump on Wednesday stormed the Capitol building.
On various social media, top officials unequivocally condemned the attack as an attempt to obstruct a peaceful passage of powers at the White House. And they greeted the electoral victory of Joe Biden, as soon as the American Congress was able to resume its session and validate it.
"The U.S. Congress has certified Joe Biden's electoral victory," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte wrote on Twitter.
"We are looking forward to working together with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to promote a global agenda aimed at growth, sustainability, and inclusion."
A few hours before, Conte had expressed "great concern" over the scenes of people storming the U.S. Capitol.
"Violence is incompatible with the exercise of democratic rights and freedoms. I am confident in the strength and robustness of the institutions of the United States," he wrote.
Italy's Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio also stressed what happened in Washington was "extremely serious." "This is an attack on the freedoms of the U.S. people. We strongly condemn any form of violence," he said on Twitter.
Senate President Elisabetta Casellati -- Italy's third highest institutional role, after president of the Republic and prime minister -- condemned the assault as "extremely serious and unacceptable."
"Nothing can justify the acts of violence that have taken place in Washington," Casellati said in a statement on Thursday.
Her fellow Roberto Fico, Italy's lower house speaker, sent words of solidarity to the U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Facebook. "The images from Washington are painful," Fico said.
Four people, including a woman who was shot by Capitol Police, died amid clashes between police and Trump supporters on Wednesday, which also led to dozens of arrests, according to police. At least 14 U.S. officers sustained injuries. Enditem