Ex-conjoined Malaysian twins improving

Ex-conjoined Malaysian twins improving

SAUDI ARABIA: Formerly conjoined Malaysian twins Ahmed and Mohammed watched cartoons, flipped through children's books and shook hands with visitors on Sunday, signs the 4-year-old boys are improving after a marathon operation to separate them almost three weeks ago.

Even though they have been living in independent bodies since Sept. 18, the first thing Ahmed and Mohammed ask for every morning is to hold hands.

The twins, then joined at the pelvis, chest and abdomen, arrived with their parents in Saudi Arabia in August after Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah offered to sponsor their operation.

A team of Saudi specialists spent almost 24 hours last month separating them at King Abdulaziz Medical City hospital in Riyadh.

Dr. Abdullah al-Rabeeah, head of the surgical team, said they will now undergo an intensive physical therapy program before the boys - each born with one leg - are fitted with artificial legs. --AP