Washington shooting: US flags at half mast until Friday

Washington: President Barack Obama ordered flags be lowered to half mast through Friday after a mass shooting at a naval base in the US capital left 13 dead including the shooter.

The gesture was "a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence," Obama said in a proclamation issued Monday evening after the shooting, as the flags at the White House and the Capitol building were observed at half mast.

Obama also postponed the taping of a televised musical special at the White House dedicated to Hispanic tunes that had been due to feature Ricky Martin and Gloria Estefan.