Pakistani Girl Shot by Taliban Released from British Hospital

Malala Yousafzai upon initial discharge from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England, Jan. 4, 2013.

The Pakistani girl shot in the head by Taliban militants for advocating girls' education has been discharged from a British hospital.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the city of Birmingham said in a statement Friday that Malala Yousufzai had been released the previous day, after her medical team decided she was well enough to be discharged.

The 15-year-old had reconstructive surgery at the facility on Saturday. During a five-hour procedure, surgeons repaired her skull with a titanium plate and inserted an electronic implant to help restore hearing in her left ear.

In a video message released on Monday, Malala thanked supporters for their prayers and vowed to continue to "serve the people" and work to see that "every girl, every child" in Pakistan is educated.

Malala was returning from school in Pakistan's northwestern Swat Valley in October when Taliban gunmen shot her, saying she had spoken out against the militant group and in favor of girls' education.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.