Sympathy for US school shooting stretches globe

BANGKOK (AP) — Leaders of two of the closest longtime allies of the United States have been quick to express sympathy over a shooting rampage that left 26 people dead, including 20 children, at a Connecticut elementary school.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement Saturday that her country shares America's shock at what she called "this senseless and incomprehensible act of evil."

She said that Australians, as parents as well as friends of the American people, mourned the loss of young children and teachers who were murdered in a place of learning.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said that he was "shocked and deeply saddened" to hear of the shootings and that he found it "heartbreaking" to think of those who lost such young children.