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A US congresswoman has been shot and killed at a public event in southern Arizona.

Gabrielle Giffords, a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives, was shot in the head at close range in front of hundreds of people.

The gunman was arrested after the shooting at the event at a supermarket in the city of Tucson.

Members of her staff were among up to 12 other people who were also shot. Six are reported to have died.

Ms Giffords, 40, who represented the eighth district of Arizona in the House, was married to space shuttle astronaut Mark Kelly.

She served on several congressional committees, including those covering the armed services and foreign affairs.

Jeff Rogers, chairman of the local Democratic Party, said Ms Giffords was "a rising star" in the Democratic Party and had hoped to eventually win the Arizona Senate seat.

"That is terrible news. She was a wonderful congresswoman and a wonderful person," he told BBC News.

He added: "We just can't continue to have this kind of carnage on school campuses and against public officials."