Taliban gun victim arrives in UK

A Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen for speaking out about suffering under the regime has been admitted to a UK hospital.

Malala Yousafzai, 14, flew to Birmingham Airport and was transferred to the city's Queen Elizabeth Hospital which has a decade's experience of treating British military casualties.

The teenager was shot on a bus in front of her friends last Tuesday in what Foreign Secretary William Hague described as a "barbaric attack".

She was saved by neurosurgeons in a Pakistani military hospital and has since been in intensive care.

But doctors decided she needed "prolonged care" to help her recover from the physical and psychological effects of the attack.

"Malala's bravery in standing up for the right of all young girls in Pakistan to an education is an example to us all," said Mr Hague.

"Our thoughts remain with Malala and her family at this difficult time.

"The public revulsion and condemnation of this cowardly attack shows that the people of Pakistan will not be beaten by terrorists.

"The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism."

Malala was shot with two classmates as they made their way home from school in Swat, in the north west of Pakistan. She was attacked by the Taliban for promoting the education of girls and criticising the militant group.