Need meaningful actions to prevent shooting: Obama

US President Barack Obama Friday said the US needs to take "meaningful action", regardless of politics, to prevent more tragedies in the wake of a deadly shooting spree in an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

In an emotional statement at the White House briefing room, Obama repeatedly wiped away tears as he spoke, saying the nation was "heartbroken" over the deaths of so many innocent children. The country has seen too many shootings over the years, he said.

"The majority of those who died today (Friday) were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of five and 10 years," Xinhu quoted Obama as saying. "They had their entire lives ahead of them, birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own."

Obama also ordered US flags to be flown at half-staff at the White House and all public buildings and grounds as a mark of respect for the victims.

Twenty children were among 27 people, including the shooter, who were killed Friday in a shooting rampage at an elementary school in Newtown. - IANS