Elizabeth Taylor takes a rest after tumour surgery

Doctors expect Elizabeth Taylor to fully recover after an operation that removed a 2-inch tumour from her brain.

Miss Taylor was said to be resting comfortably at a Los Angeles hospital and could be released by next Thursday, her 65th birthday.

Dr Martin Cooper said the surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center appeared to be successful and without complications.

"The technical aspects of the surgery went very well," said Cooper, the clinical chief of neurosurgery at the hospital of the rich and famous where Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson were patients recently. "The tumor is totally removed.... We expect full recovery."

The violet-eyed, Oscar-winning actress ("Butterfield 8" in 1960 and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1966) underwent four hours of surgery to remove the tumour. She was moving her arms and legs after Thursday's operation, and was expected to be in intensive care for about 24 hours.

The tumor, which will be examined further, was in the brain lining near the left parietal lobe, just behind and above the left ear. The region governs the recognition of sensations such as pain, heat and cold, and plays a role in speech functions.

Miss Taylor has had several serious hospitalisations over the years, and at least 20 major operations. She nearly died from a bout with pneumonia in 1990.

AP - Los Angeles