Shot US politician opened her eyes, Barack Obama reveals

President Obama dramatically revealed that US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords opened her eyes last night for the first time since being shot in the head.

He said the 40-year-old victim of the Tucson gun rampage suddenly awoke moments after he and wife, Michelle, visited her hospital bedside.

"Gabby opened her eyes for the first time," he told a cheering crowd in Tucson's Arizona University arena.

Mrs Obama held hands with the congresswoman's husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, as the news brought renewed hope that the Arizona politician will recover.

At a memorial service for the six killed and 14 injured by Jared Loughner, the president asked the nation to overcome its divisions.

"I believe we can be better," he said. "Those who died here, those who saved lives here — they help me believe. We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us.

"At a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do — it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds," the president said.

By turns sombre and hopeful, Mr Obama paid tribute to the victims, especially nine-year-old Christina Green, who was shot dead on Saturday.

"I want us to live up to her expectations,' he said. "I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it. I want America to be as good as she was. All of us — we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children's expectations.

"If there are rain puddles in heaven, Christina is jumping in them today. And here on earth, we place our hands over our hearts, and commit ourselves as Americans to forging a country that is forever worthy of her gentle, happy spirit."

Yesterday Sarah Palin, who has been criticised in the media for her vitriolic political rhetoric, accused journalists of inciting hatred.

She said: "Within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible."

"Blood libel" is a false allegation that Jews killed Christian children to use their blood in Passover rituals.