US shooting suspect may be paralysed

The lawyer for the Army psychiatrist accused of killing fellow soldiers at Fort Hood says doctors have told the soldier he may be paralysed from the waist down.

Attorney John Galligan said today that Major Nidal Malik Hasan told him that he has no feeling in his legs and doctors say the condition may be permanent.

Mr Galligan says Hasan also told him he had extreme pain in his hands.

Hasan was shot by police officers responding to last week's shootings at Fort Hood, Texas.

Mr Galligan spoke with him on Thursday in the intensive care unit at Brooke Army Medical Centre in San Antonio.

Hasan has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder in the attack at the sprawling Texas post that also left 29 people wounded.