U.N. rights office says Trump should disavow 'very dangerous' language

[January 08, 2021]    GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. rights office said on Friday that President Donald Trump should disavow "very dangerous" language he and other political leaders have used about the U.S. election result and the storming of the Capitol in Washington this week.

President Donald Trump addresses a campaign rally in Dalton, Georgia, U.S., on the eve of the run-off election to decide both of Georgia's Senate seats January 4, 2021. REUTERS/Leah Millis

"We are deeply troubled by the incitement to violence and hatred by political leaders and we are calling on the President of the United States and other political leaders to disavow, openly disavow, false and dangerous narratives that are being spread...," U.N. Human Rights Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in response to a question about Trump's personal responsibility for events at the Capitol.

"This kind of inciteful language can be very dangerous," she told an online briefing.

Her comments follows U.N. human rights boss Michelle Bachelet's call late on Thursday for a thorough investigation into the events in Washington which left five people dead.

Shamdasani also expressed concern about the display of symbols of "white supremacy" outside the Capitol such as the Confederate flag, anti-Semitic symbols and a noose.

"We condemn this display of overtly racist symbols."

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Giles Elgood)

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