US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot, gravely injured at event in Arizona

Gabrielle Giffords, a 40-year-old Democrat in her third term in the House of Representatives, was airlifted to a hospital in Tucson after being shot in the head at point-blank range at a Safeway supermarket in the Arizona city.

Dr Peter Rhee said the congresswoman was in a critical condition but that he was optimistic about her recovery.

Dr Rhee told a news conference at Tuscon