Obama orders flags flown at half-staff

Nov 6, 2009, 16:38 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama ordered the flags of all federal government buildings to be flown at half-staff on Friday in remembrance of the victims of the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas.

'This is a modest tribute to those who lost their lives even as many were preparing to risk their lives for their country,' Obama said.

Twelve soldiers and one civilian policeman died when an Army psychiatrist opened fire at the base on Thursday. The alleged gunman, Major Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, was shot by police and was in the hospital.

Hasan reportedly shouted 'Allahu Akbar' - God is great - before unloading two handguns.

Obama said he was receiving briefings on the investigation and cautioned against drawing any conclusions about the motive behind the attack until more is learned.

'We don't know all of the answers yet, and I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all of the facts,' he said.