Niinistö welcomes US Congress' affirmation of Biden's win

 Finnish President Sauli Niinistö welcomed the certification of the US presidential election by Congress after the process was temporarily halted when a mob stormed the Capitol building.

"The continuation of the constitutional process shows that the [US] system is still working, even if it has been put to the test," he said in a statement.

Niinisto said he believed there was need for the United States to "look for answers as to why attitudes have hardened and escalated, and how national unity will be rebuilt."

"With the transfer of power, it has been expected that the role of the United States in the international community will be strengthened. Internal discord will jeopardise this," he cautioned.