Happy to be separated

(MENAFN- Arab News) Two conjoined iraqi infants were successfully separated through an operation performed by a 23-member multidisciplinary team headed by health minister dr. abdullah al-rabeeah on thursday.

Christ and christian were born conjoined from their breastbone to their abdomen. they also shared a liver and an intestinal tract

The surgery took five hours beginning at 8:15 a.m. at king abdulaziz medical city (kamc) and ending at 1:15 p.m

The surgical team held several meetings and carried out medical examinations on the twins prior to the surgery.

Al-rabeeah who had the twins put in two separate beds at the intensive care unit of the pediatric ward at kamc expressed happiness that the operation was a success at the end of the intervention

'their oxygen masks have also been removed" said one official

Their parents and elder sister were present at the hospital when the twins were taken to the operation theater

'the timely intervention of custodian of the two holy mosques king abdullah allowed several conjoined twins from 16 countries to lead a normal life following surgical interventions in the kingdom" said al-rabeeah in an earlier statement

Conjoined twins are separated free-of-charge at the king abdulaziz medical city national guard health affairs in riyadh upon directives issued by the king

Travel expenses for the twins and their parents are covered by the saudi government. in addition accommodation costs are covered by hospital authorities until the twins are discharged.