Mandela Recovering As ANC Chooses New Leader

By Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent, in Johnnesburg

Nelson Mandela is spending his ninth day in hospital, recovering from a lung infection and gallstones, while the party he once headed meets amid widespread squabbling over who should be their next head.

There is heavy security around the conference in Bloemfontein which meets every five years. It has drawn more than 4,000 delegates to the city, which is also known by its African name, Mangaung.

Whoever wins the election as African National Congress (ANC) leader is almost certainly going to be the next president of the country.

Eighteen years after their first democratic election, the ANC is still overwhelmingly dominant in South African politics.

The sitting president, Jacob Zuma, who is known to dance and sing in public, faces a challenge from his quiet, unassuming deputy Kgalema Motlanthe. His challenge is seen as evidence of very obvious discontent right at the heart of the ANC hierarchy.

The run-up to Mangaung has seen shootings and threats towards local ANC officials and a flurry of accusations that the voting figures were being manipulated in Mr Zuma's favour.

The 70-year-old president remains the hot favourite and commands a lot of influence amongst the Zulu population - the largest ethnic group in the country.

But there is huge discontent and unease over his leadership, and the party in general, elsewhere in the country.

South Africa's ruling ANC still dominates politics

A week before the conference, a group of the country's most influential religious leaders wrote a letter to the party accusing it of "moral decay".

Much of the South African media has been exorcised over reports that Mr Zuma has spent more than 200m rand (about £15m) on upgrading his homestead in Kwazulu Natal.

At the same time, his government was bulldozing homes in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, which had been apparently illegally built.

This at a time when South Africa has seen his credit rating downgraded and there is still much industrial unrest over poor wages and conditions.

For many black people, life post-apartheid may have meant getting the vote, but very little access to the country's wealth.

American civil rights activist Rev Jesse Jackson told me at the ANC's centenary celebrations in Bloemfontein at the start of the year he believed most people in South Africa were enduring an "economic apartheid".

Although there is a growing black middle class, the gap between rich and poor in the country is widening too - to such an extent that South Africa is considered one of the most unequal societies in the world.

Mr Zuma is the man who is drawing most of the ire about this inequality. He is a man with little or no formal education and apparently taught himself to write while cattle herding as a boy.

President Zuma has been blamed for his handling of the Marikana massacre

He has sterling ANC credentials having served time in prison during the fight against the country's racial segregation laws known as apartheid.

He rose through the party ranks and, apart from heading the party's intelligence branch, he went on to be deputy president but was fired by the then president, Thabo Mbeki, after being implicated in a corruption scandal involving an arms deal.

He is a polygamist who has been married six times and currently has four wives. He has 21 children but admitted in 2010 that he had fathered a child out of wedlock.

He stood trial accused of raping a family friend and told the court before being acquitted in 2006 that he had unprotected sex with the woman who was HIV-positive but had taken a shower believing it would protect him from Aids.

It was Mr Zuma and his poor stewardship of the government and industry which was largely blamed by the public, at the time at least, for the mining massacre at Marikana in August this year when police gunned down 34 striking miners outside the Lonmin plant.

It was the ANC and Mr Zuma as its head who was largely seen as responsible for causing so much discontent. The handling of the tragedy led to a number of other strikes across different sectors as workers fought for better wages and conditions.

It is in this atmosphere that the ANC elective conference is taking place - and despite the expectation that Mr Zuma will be re-elected, his return to leadership is not expected to see the dissolution of the mountain of problems the country is facing.

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Royal Hoax: Nurse's Body Flown To India

The body of the nurse who apparently took her own life after being duped by a prank call has been flown to India for her funeral.

Mother-of-two Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was found dead in her nurses' quarters at London's King Edward VII's Hospital by a colleague and a security guard on December 7.

The Order of Service for the Westminster mass

Three days earlier the Indian-born nurse transferred a call from two Australian DJs, believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales, to her co-worker.

The second nurse then explained the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge, who was staying in the hospital for pregnancy-related sickness.

Ms Saldanha's funeral will take place on Monday at Our Lady of Health Church near Mangalore in Shirva, the hometown of her husband Benedict Barboza.

Residents will be able to pay final respects to the body before the mass and the burial ceremony.

The family with Keith Vaz (right) following Saturday's mass

Ms Saldanha's frail mother lives with her other daughter and a son in Mangalore, in the western state of Karnataka.

Mr Barboza accompanied her body on Sunday's flight to India along with their two children.

On Saturday Junal and Lisha, described the "unfillable void" left in their lives by their mother's death as a mass was held at Westminster Cathedral.

Following the service, Mr Barboza paid an emotional tribute: "My wife, you were the light in my darkness, who always showed me the way forward.

"From the day we met, you always stood by me in times of hardship and happiness. I feel a part of me has been ripped out.

"Without your beautiful smile and sparkling personality, the house is an empty place to live.

Ms Saldanha's widower arrives in India

"Nineteen years of togetherness with a strong bond of affection and understanding will be cherished forever in my life."

Ms Saldanha's daughter said: "We will miss your laughter, the loving memories and the good times we had together.

"The house is an empty dwelling without your presence. We are shattered and there's an unfillable void in our lives."

Her son said: "Our mother, kind hearted, generous and a well respected woman in both of our lives. You were the core of the family who kept us together.

Ms Saldanha worked at the hospital where the Duchess was treated

"Your priority for us was a good education and a bright future. You taught us right from wrong which we appreciate.

"You worked tirelessly to give us everything that we have today. When we achieved good grades and merit, your pat on our backs encouraged us more."

Standing outside the cathedral alongside their local MP Charlotte Leslie and MP Keith Vaz, who has been campaigning on behalf of the family, Mr Barboza said the family "could not have foreseen the unprecedented tragedy that has unfolded in our lives".

He thanked the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prime Minister David Cameron for their condolences.

Memorial services have already been held at the hospital where Ms Saldanha worked and in Bristol where her husband and children live.

Ms Saldanha left two notes in her room and also had marks on her wrist when her body was discovered, Westminster Coroner's Court in London heard on Thursday.

A provisional date of March 26 has been set for the next inquest hearing.

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Peter Ndlovu Injured In Zimbabwe Car Crash

Former Sheffield United, Coventry City and Birmingham City striker Peter Ndlovu has been critically injured in a car accident in his native Zimbabwe.

His older brother Adam, 42, died in the crash at Victoria Falls on Sunday morning.

"I understand that efforts are being made to airlift Peter Ndlovu from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo," tweeted David Coltart, the country's sports minister.

"My prayers are with you Peter, be strong."

An as-yet unidentified woman who was travelling with the Ndlovu brothers was also killed, Zimbabwe's NewsDay reported.

The newspaper said Adam was at the wheel of Peter's BMW X5, when a tyre burst and the vehicle veered off the road, hitting several trees before rolling.

Peter, 39, made more than 100 appearances for the three English league teams, scoring 91 goals. He also spent a short period on loan to Huddersfield Town.

Sheffield United tweeted: "Our thoughts are with former player Peter Ndlovu, who has been critically injured in a car accident in his native Zimbabwe."

A statement from Birmingham City read: "The thoughts of everyone associated with Birmingham City Football Club are with Peter Ndlovu and his family following news of a serious car crash in Zimbabwe.

"Peter was a very popular player during his time at St Andrew's and we hope he pulls through this difficult time."

Former Coventry team mate Darren Huckerby wrote: "Terrible news about Peter Ndlovu and his brother, hope he pulls through."

Peter has been working as a coach for the Zimbabwe Young Warriors Under 23 team.

His brother Adam was also a professional footballer, carving out a career in Switzerland, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

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Japan Election: Ex-PM Set For Return To Power

By Mark Stone, Asia Correspondent

Japan has made a political lurch to the right with exit polls in the country's general election indicating a strong win for the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Exit polls by several local TV broadcasters suggest the conservative-leaning LDP, led by Shinzo Abe, has won nearly 300 out of the 480 seats in the country's lower house.

The result means Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Democratic Party will be ousted after just three years in power.

Mr Abe, 58 - who has already served as Prime Minister for a year between 2006 and 2007 - is seen as having a hawkish foreign policy and a radical economic agenda.

The win by his LDP Party is widely expected to produce a government with a hardline stance to tackle the ongoing territorial dispute with China.

Mr Abe has said he wants Japan to play a bigger role in global security. He has pledged to change the country's pacifist constitution signed after World War Two.

A new right-leaning government combined with changes to the constitution and growing nationalist movement within Japan could significantly increase tensions in East Asia.

China and Japan, who have a historically hostile relationship, both claim a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Beijing calls them the Diaoyu Islands and Tokyo refers to them as the Senkaku Islands.

China's claim had been dormant until the Japanese Government bought the islands from an individual who owned them earlier this year.

Last week, Japan scrambled fighter jets to the skies above the islands after a Chinese surveillance plane was spotted in air-space deemed by Tokyo to be Japanese.

Fixing Japan's economy will be the biggest domestic challenge for the incoming government. Mr Abe's policy is for 'unlimited' monetary easing and big spending on public projects.

Japan could be about to enter its fourth recession since 2000 and has a public debt twice the size of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Some of Japan's most famous brands like Sony and Sharp are struggling in the face of competition from rivals in China and South Korea. Their woes are compounded by a strong yen, which has forced the price of their products in foreign markets up considerably.

Mr Abe's party also has a pro-nuclear energy policy despite last year's disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power station.

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Egypt Constitution: Islamists Claim First Win

Islamists backing a new constitution for Egypt have claimed victory in an initial phase of a two-stage referendum.

But the opposition has alleged polling violations and said it would await the final results due in a week's time.

The two sides' positions drew out the deep uncertainty and division seen in Egypt over the past three weeks, a period marked by mass protests and deadly clashes.

A small majority of 56.5% voted for the draft charter put to half of Egypt's 51 million voters on Saturday, according to the Freedom and Justice Party, the political branch of President Mohamed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.

Mr Morsi casts his vote

Egyptian media reported roughly the same figure, which fell short of the landslide the Brotherhood had been hoping for to quiet the restive opposition.

But the opposition National Salvation Front coalition said in a statement that it "will not recognise any unofficial result," and will wait for the formal tally after next Saturday's second round of voting.

Mr Morsi and his backers say the constitution is vital to move Egypt's democratic transition forward.

But opponents say the basic law is too Islamist and tramples on minority rights, including those of Christians who make up 10% of the population.

Violence between the charter's supporters and opponents flared in Egypt's two largest cities, Cairo and Alexandria, before and after the referendum.

Demonstrations erupted when Mr Morsi awarded himself extra powers on November 22 and then fast-tracked the constitution through an assembly dominated by his Islamist allies.

Violence erupted in Alexandria over the vote

However, the vote passed off calmly, with long queues in Cairo and several other places, although unofficial tallies indicated turnout was around one-third of the 26 million people eligible to vote this time.

The vote was staggered because many of the judges needed to oversee polling staged a boycott in protest.

International watchdogs, the UN human rights chief, the US and the EU have all expressed reservations about the draft because of loopholes that could be used to weaken human rights.

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Adam Lanza: School Gunman 'Socially Awkward'

School Shooting: The Victims

Updated: 3:12pm UK, Sunday 16 December 2012

The Sandy Hook victims have been described as "beautiful", "sweet" and "angels", most of them just six or seven when they were gunned down.

As police released a list of the names of the 20 children and seven adults killed by gunman Adam Lanza, friends and relatives have paid their tributes to those who died.

:: Olivia Engel, 6

Olivia had been due to play an angel in the nativity play at her local church. "Now she's an angel up in heaven," Monsignor Robert Weiss said.

Dan Merton, a long-time family friend, described Olivia as a "teacher's pet" and said that she had "perfect manners".

"Her only crime," he said, "is being a wiggly, smiley six-year-old".

:: Emilie Parker, 6

Emilie was studying Portuguese with her father, Robert, before school on the morning she died. He had left after hearing her say "good morning" in the language.

He said: "She was beautiful. She was blond. She was always smiling" and that "I'm so blessed to be her dad".

He said he would now struggle to explain to her two siblings, aged three and four, what had happened.

:: Dylan Hockley, 6

Dylan was born in Hampshire but had been living in Newtown since 2011 with his mother Nicole, father Ian and older brother, Jake.

The family lives in a house opposite the home in which Adam Lanza, the killer, lived with his mother Nancy.

Mrs Hockley, an American, had recently told the local newspaper that she was happy with life in the community and said: "Newtown is a wonderful place to live."

Family friend, Theresa Moretti, said: "Dylan was a lovely boy. He had dimples and blue eyes and a mischievous grin."

:: Charlotte Bacon, 6

When she went to school on Friday, Charlotte had begged her mother to wear a new pink dress and boots that were supposed to be for Christmas.

It was the first and last time she would wear the outfit.

Her parents, JoAnn and Joel, had lived in Newton for around five years with Charlotte and her older brother, Guy, who also attended Sandy Hook but was not injured in the shooting.

Charlotte's uncle said that she could "light up the room for anyone."

:: Ana Marquez-Greene, 6

Ana had only been at the school for a few months after her family moved to the area so her father, the Canadian jazz musician, Jimmy Greene, could take up a job as a music professor.

Described by a family friend as "vivacious and affectionate" Ana had been the subject of a song on her father's 2009 album Mission Statement, called Ana Grace.

Ana attended the school with her older brother, who was not hurt in the shooting.

:: Noah Pozner, 6

Noah Pozner attended Sandy Hook school with his twin sister. He was killed, she survived the attack, as did his older sister.

Their mother, a nurse at the local hospital, completely broke down when she learned the news of her son's death.

Rabbi Shaul Praver, of Congregation Adath Israel, told MSNBC: "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and his little body could not endure so many bullets like that."

:: Grace McDonnell, 7

Described by her babysitter as a "beautiful, sweet girl", Grace lived so close to her killer Adam Lanza's house the family can nearly see it from their windows.

Neighbours say Grace, whose mother Lynn, 45, is a housewife, and father Christopher, 49, is a business executive, was "utterly adorable".

She has an 11-year-old brother, Jack.

:: Chase Kowalski, 7

Chase was looking forward to Christmas, he told a neighbour he was hoping to get his two front teeth back.

The first-grade student, who has two older sisters, loved being outside and playing on a slide or in the family's swimming pool.

He had completed and won his first mini-triathlon. His neighbour, Kevin Grimes, said: "You couldn't think of a better child."

:: Catherine Hubbard, 6

Catherine's parents, Jennifer and Matthew, released a statement and a picture of their daughter.

In it they said: "We are greatly saddened by the loss of our beautiful daughter, Catherine Violet and our thoughts and prayers are with the other families who have been affected by this tragedy.

"We ask that you continue to pray for us and the other families who have experienced loss in this tragedy."

:: Jesse Lewis, 6

Jesse was supposed to be making gingerbread houses and his father Neil Heslin had been planning to go to Sandy Hook School to watch.

Mr Heslin told The New York Post that his son, who was in Victoria Soto's class, was happy when he dropped him off at the school gates. "That was the last I saw of him", he said.

He was keen on horse riding and had a collection of animals he enjoyed playing with.

:: James Mattioloi, 6

James is the son of Cindy Mattioli from the upstate New York town of Sherrill.

The mayor, William Vineall said: "Everybody will be there for them, and our thoughts and prayers are there for them."

:: Daniel Barden, 7

Daniel was a budding athlete who was on the swim team and enjoyed playing soccer.

He was described by a family friend as "a sweet boy".

:: Josephine Guy, 7

Josephine had celebrated her seventh birthday just three days before she was gunned down by Adam Lanza.

:: Victoria Soto, 27, teacher

The teacher died a hero, putting herself between the children in her class and the gunman.

She had always wanted to be a teacher, it was her one goal. "She put those children first. That's all she ever talked about," said her friend Andrea Crowell.

Described by pupils as "really nice and funny", they fondly recalled how Miss Soto had a habit of chewing gum in class.

:: Lauren Rousseau, 30, teacher

Miss Rousseau wanted to be a teacher when she was in primary school and was thrilled to finally realise her dream when she because a full-time teacher at Sandy Hook.

She has been described as gentle but spirited and active. She planned to watch The Hobbit with her boyfriend on Friday and had baked cupcakes for a party they were to attend afterwards.

Her mother, Teresa Rousseau, said: "Lauren wanted to be a teacher from before she even went to kindergarten. We will miss her terribly and will take comfort knowing that she had achieved that dream."

:: Dawn Hochsprung, 47, principal

The head teacher was fiercely proud of her school and fiercely protective of it too.

So much so she died after lunging at the gunman Adam Lanza as he launched his attack.

She had led the 700-pupil elementary school for two years and implemented the latest teaching techniques.

Mrs Hochsprung, who had two daughters and three step daughters, also installed new safety measures there, with the mantra "safety first".

:: Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist

Mrs Sherlach was preparing for her retirement after 18 years at Sandy Hook School.

Married for 31 years, with two daughters, aged 25 and 28, she loved her job and was dedicated to the education of young children.

Her son-in-law, Eric Schwartz, said that she had planned to leave work early on Friday but never got the chance. She had died, he added, doing what she loved.

He said: "Mary felt like she was doing God's work, working with the children."

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Victoria Soto Shot Dead After Saving Pupils

Gunman's Family Release Statements

Updated: 4:22am UK, Sunday 16 December 2012

The father of and uncle of dead gunman Adam Lanza have released statements, as America comes to terms with its most deadly school massacre.

Peter Lanza, who has been interviewed by police, said: "Our hearts go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones and to all those who were injured.

"Our family is grieving along with all those who have been affected by this enormous tragedy. No words can truly express how heartbroken we are.

Mr Lanza, who is an executive with General Electric, added: "We are in a state of disbelief and trying to find whatever answers we can. We too are asking why.

"We have cooperated fully with law enforcement and will continue to do so.

"Like so many of you, we are saddened, but struggling to make sense of what has transpired."

Meanwhile, Ms Lanza's brother has also released a statement for the families struggling to cope in the aftermath of the shooting spree.

James Champion, an ex-policeman who lives in Kingston in New Hampshire, said: "On behalf of Nancy's mother and siblings, we reach out to the community of Newtown to express our heartfelt sorrow for the incomprehensible loss of innocence that has affected so many."

According to the New York Times, Mr Champion confirmed that FBI agents questioned family members about Adam Lanza on Friday night.

Mr Champion declined to reveal what the FBI was told about his nephew, or if the gunman suffered from developmental disorders or mental illness.

He added that his sister had not working recently however she was previously a stockbroker.

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Baha Mousa Death: Doctor 'Acted Dishonestly'

By Mike McCarthy, North Of England correspondent

A former army doctor has been found guilty of misleading and dishonest conduct following the death of an Iraqi detainee in 2003.

A tribunal of medical watchdogs found Dr Derek Keilloh failed to carry out a proper examination of Baha Mousa.

He was also held responsible for failing to assess the health of other detainees.

Dr Keilloh had been on duty as a regimental medical officer in September 2003 and was about to end his shift when he was called to treat Mr Mousa, a hotel receptionist who had been arrested by British soldiers in Basra 36 hours earlier.

He had been hooded for almost 24 hours, handcuffed and violently assaulted.

He had extensive injuries including a broken nose, fractures ribs and severe bruising to his face and neck.

Mr Mousa suffered 93 separate injuries at the hands of the soldiers.

Dr Keilloh tried to resuscitate him but was unable to save the Iraqi.

Baha Mousa pictured with his family

The medic subsequently said he identified only a small amount of dried blood around the nose and repeatedly denied any knowledge of other injuries.

It is claimed he insisted under oath that he had seen nothing untoward.

He has been accused at the 'fitness to practice' tribunal in Manchester that he failed to act with 'openness and honesty'.

Mr Mousa, 26, had been arrested by soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

A public inquiry concluded the injuries, heat, exhaustion, hooding and stress positions had contributed to the detainee's death.

Dr Keilloh, a 28-year-old captain at the time of the incident, had only been his job as regimental medical officer for eight weeks.

Ahmed al Matairi, who was detained in Basra, told the medical tribunal he had heard Mr Mousa cry:  "I am innocent. I am not a Baathist. My wife died six months ago. Blood! Blood! I am going to die."

His 22-year-old wife had died of cancer prior to his detention.

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Syria: Air Strike Hits Palestinian Refugee Camp

At least 25 people have been killed after Syrian fighter jets bombed a Palestinian refugee camp in the capital Damascus, according to opposition activists.

The attack on the Yarmouk camp was part of a campaign by President Bashar al Assad's military to force back rebel forces from a swathe of territory that runs from the east to the southwest of the city.

Opposition activists said the victims had been sheltering in a mosque when it was hit by a rocket fired by a Syrian fighter jet.

The deadly air strike came as rebel fighters in the northern city of Aleppo claimed they had taken an army infantry base, the latest in a series of military installations to fall into the hands of the opposition.

A commander of the Islamist Tawheed Brigade said his men helped take the building after five days of fighting.

"At least 100 soldiers have been taken prisoners and 150 decided to join us. The soldiers were all hungry because of the siege," he said.

The complex, known as Hanano Barracks, includes an army base, a recruiting centre and a military school.

Rebels took the army base near Aleppo after several days of fighting

Syria is home to more than 500,000 Palestinian refugees, most living in Yarmouk, and both Assad's government and the mainly Sunni Muslim Syrian rebels have enlisted and also armed Palestinians as the uprising has spread.

Heavy fighting broke out 12 days ago between Palestinians loyal to Assad and Syrian rebels, together with a brigade of Palestinian fighters known as Liwaa al Asifah (Storm Brigade).

Clashes flared again after the air strike as Palestinians from the pro-Assad Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) fought Syrian rebels and other Palestinians, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights group.

Meanwhile, the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement said there was no way the rebels would emerge victorious from the conflict.

"The situation in Syria is getting more complicated (but) anyone who thinks the armed opposition can settle the situation on the ground is very very very mistaken," Hassan Nasrallah said.

The Shia Muslim movement is a close ally of the Assad regime and has been accused of sending fighters to Syria to help battle the rebels.

About 40,000 Syrians have been killed since the uprising against Mr Assad's rule began 21 months ago.

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US Shooting: Gunman Blasted Way Into School

The gunman in America's worst school shooting blasted his way through a locked glass door, climbed through and carried out the massacre, the Connecticut governor said.

Adam Lanza, 20, opened fire with a high-powered rifle inside Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday morning, killing 26 people. Twenty of the victims were children, all aged six or seven, including British boy Dylan Hockley.

Governor Dan Malloy revealed that the gunman committed suicide as the first responders closed in.

"He shot his way into the building. He penetrated the building by literally shooting an entrance into the building. That's what an assault weapon can do for you," he said.

"He discharged to make an opening and then went through it, went to the first classroom ... went to the second classroom.

"We surmise that it was during the second classroom episode that he heard responders coming and apparently at that, decided to take his own life."

The shooting has plunged Newtown into mourning

Police had said Lanza forced his way into the school -  which had just installed a new security door where visitors could be viewed by video camera and buzzed in - in the picturesque town of Newtown, but it was not clear he used a gun to do so.

Before arriving at the school, Lanza shot dead his mother, Nancy Lanza, at the home they shared, then drove to Sandy Hook in her car with at least three of her guns.

Initial reports suggested Lanza used two handguns in his spree, but officials revealed that his main weapon was a .223 calibre Bushmaster.

Mr Malloy said there was still little clue to Lanza's motivation, but that a picture of his mental state would eventually emerge. So far, police have not said whether they found a suicide note or any other documents.

"Clearly he was troubled. You have to be deranged to carry out this kind of crime," Mr Malloy said.

"This was a troubled individual ... I'm sure we'll come to know more about him, his problems, his family."

Later Sunday, US President Barack Obama was due to arrive in the leafy town to address an interfaith vigil. The White House said Mr Obama would also meet with families of victims and first responders who were sent to the carnage.

Adam Lanza killed himself as police closed in

All the victims at the school were shot with a rifle, at least some of them up close, and all were apparently shot more than once, Chief Medical Examiner Dr H Wayne Carver said. There were as many as 11 shots on the bodies he examined.

All six adults killed at the school were women. Of the 20 children, eight were boys and 12 were girls.

After police released the names of the gunman's 27 victims, one father paid an emotional tribute to his murdered six-year-old daughter.

Robbie Parker said his final conversation with Emilie was in Portuguese, the language he was helping to teach her.

"She told me 'good morning' and asked how I was doing, and I said that I was doing well," he told reporters.

"She said that she loved me, and I gave her a kiss and I was out the door."

Headteacher Dawn Hochsprung and school psychologist Mary Sherlach both died as they tried to confront the gunman.

The shooting happened shortly after school had happened

Ms Hochsprung is also believed to have switched on a loudspeaker system in the school to alert students and staff to the danger.

"She was just an amazing woman ... the kids loved her. It's a huge loss for our school and our town," said assistant librarian Maryanne Jacobs.

Another hero was said to be first-grade teacher Vicki Leigh Soto, 27, described by police as someone who "put herself between the kids and the gunman's bullets".

Her body was found huddled with the students in a classroom closet, according to The Wall Street Journal.

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