Clinton demands crackdown on extremism in Middle East, US in wake of Tucson shooting

Washington, Jan 11 (ANI): US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is currently in Abu Dhabi on a tour of Gulf Arab countries, has praised Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords, and added that extremists must be stopped both in the Middle East and in America.

Politico quoted Clinton, as saying that Giffords is a "wonderful, incredibly brave, young woman congress member" who was shot by an "extremist."

Talking to an Arabic television show, she said that extremists are widely spread in different societies, but they can be defeated with openness and tolerance.

"Rather than standing off from each other, we should work to try to prevent the extremists anywhere from being able to commit violence," Clinton added.

Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, and 18 others were shot on Saturday morning when a gunman opened fire outside a supermarket where Giffords was meeting with her constituents.

Giffords, who represents Arizona's Eighth District in the south-eastern corner of the state, has been an outspoken critic of Arizona's tough immigration law, which is focused on identifying, prosecuting and deporting illegal immigrants. She had come under criticism for her vote in favour of the Democrats' health care law. (ANI)