WASHINGTON - The world watched with dismay as a surreal scene at the U.S. Capitol, like little else seen in its history, unfolded Wednesday.

People around the world were transfixed by America's cliffhanger vote count Wednesday, with the presidential election still too close to call. President Donald Trump's premature victory claim and false allegations of voter fraud were met with expressions of shock and fear over the state of U.S. democracy, along with disparagement on the part of U.S. adversaries.