A US Congresswoman seriously injured in a shooting spree wished her husband and brother-in-law a happy birthday – and also thanked the Houston hospital where she is undergoing intensive rehabilitation for a cake that featured the likeness of her astronaut husband.

Doctors have successfully operated on shot US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ eye socket to remove bone fragments as she continued to show more signs of improvement.

Right-wing politician today Sarah Palin hit back at critics who blamed her hardline election campaigning for the Tucson massacre, saying journalists and political pundits were the culprits.