Gabrielle Giffords released from hospital

Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was released from a Houston hospital on Wednesday, five months after being shot in the head during a political event in Tucson, Ariz.

Giffords will move to League City, a town roughly 42 kilometres south of Houston, to a home owned by her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly. She will continue outpatient therapy at a facility that is part of the TIRR Memorial Hermann system, the Houston hospital where she has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation since late January.

Giffords, who was shot in the left side of her head and has been struggling to re-learn how to speak and walk, will be assisted by a 24-hour home health provider, according to a statement from the hospital.

"Anyone who knows Gabby knows that she loves being outside," her husband, Kelly, was quoted as saying."Living and working in a rehab facility for five months straight has been especially challenging for her. She will still go to TIRR each day but from now on, when she finishes rehab, she will be with her family."