Czechs mourn Prague university shooting victims

(ANSA-AFP) - PRAGUE, DEC 23 - Flags on public buildings flew at half mast Saturday and masses were scheduled across the Czech Republic for a day of national mourning after a deadly shooting at Prague's Charles University -- the worst in the country in decades. A 24-year-old student opened fire at the Faculty of Arts on Thursday, killing 13 people and then himself. Another person died in hospital later on. The gunfire sparked frantic scenes of students running from the attack. The government asked Czechs to observe a minute's silence at noon (1100 GMT) on Saturday and bells were due to ring on churches across the EU and NATO member country. "It is hard to find the words to express condemnation on the one hand and, on the other, the pain and sorrow that our entire society is feeling in these days before Christmas," said Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Tearful students have lit thousands of candles at makeshift memorials at the Faculty of Arts and the university headquarters near by. The school, families and friends have also started to publish the names of the victims, students and teachers alike. (ANSA-AFP).