EL-BIREH, West Bank (AP) The Palestinian uncle of Fort Hood shooting suspect Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan says his nephew loved America and wanted to serve his country.

Hasan allegedy shot 13 people and wounded 30 others at the Fort Hood military base in Texas on Thursday.

Rafik Hamad, 64, said Saturday that he last saw his newphew two years ago. He said Hasan was shaken by difficult cases he was treating as an army psychiatrist but wanted to serve his country because of the opportunities he was given as an American.

Hamad says his nephew was harrassed by other soldiers because of his Muslim faith but that he was not angry.