Doctors separate conjoined Irish twins

LONDON — British doctors say they successfully separated conjoined Irish twins in a London hospital.

The twin boys, Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf, were born in Cork, Ireland, joined at the chest. They did not share any major organs. About 20 doctors and nurses at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital were involved in a 14-hour surgery Wednesday to separate the twins.

Conjoined twins occur about once every 50,000 pregnancies in developed countries. The twins’ doctor said they are in intensive care and are sedated but stable.

The twins’ parents, Angie and Azzedine Benhaffaf, said in a statement released today, “Words cannot express the relief and love we feel for our two boys.”