Australia's acting prime minister has referred to the storming of the US Capitol by rioting Trump fans that killed five people as merely 'unfortunate'.
Michael McCormack failed to condemn the extraordinary violence in Washington DC and instead likened them to the Black Lives Matter protests in remarks made on Monday.
Outgoing US President Donald Trump is facing calls to resign amid accusations he incited the mob at a rally minutes before the crowd marched on the Capitol.
Mr McCormack made the controversial comments just hours after taking over from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is on holiday for a week.