SILVER SPRING (Maryland) - LEADERS at the mosque where Nidal Malik Hasan regularly worshipped on Friday described the military psychiatrist - who allegedly shot 13 people dead at a Texas army base - as a gentleman and a good Muslim.

'He was sociable, likeable. We had regular, casual conversation - he didn't manifest any particular view either way,' Asif Qadri, head of the medical clinic at the Silver Spring Muslim Community Center, told AFP.

Hasan, an army major, 'was very gentlemanly. When I saw him on television, I couldn't believe my eyes', said Dr Qadri. He said it was 'unbelievable' that the man who news reports said went on a deadly rampage Thursday in Fort Hood, Texas was the soft-spoken psychiatrist who prayed at the mosque nearly every week.

Silver Spring, a suburb of Washington, has been home to the Muslim Community Center and its busy mosque for 33 years. The mosque welcomes up to 500 Muslim faithful for Friday prayer each week, and overflows during high Muslim holidays such as Eid, when thousands can pack into the place of worship.

Arshad Kurishi, a member of the board of trustees of the centre, expressed his shock and sorrow at hearing the news of the bloodbath at Fort Hood. He said the Muslim centre has an excellent reputation in the local community.

'Everybody knows this is not a place for fanatics,' said Dr Qadri. 'We don't encourage that sort of thing.' -- AFP