US Congresswoman's health improving
Published:Monday | January 17, 2011 | 1:34 PM
Health officials in the US say the condition of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in Arizona, is has been downgraded from critical to serious.
Six people died in the January 8 shooting, which sent shockwaves across the US.
Doctors say Giffords' condition has improved since she was successfully taken off a ventilator.
Giffords, who has had brain surgery had been breathing on her own since the shooting in Tucson, but the breathing tube had been left until now as a precaution.
The gunman, 22-year-old college dropout, Jared Lee Loughner, was arrested after he opened fire as Giffords was holding a constituency meeting.
Loughner has been charged with several offences and could face the death penalty if found guilty.