Conjoined twins go home to Cork, Ireland - 21 Jan 2010

Surgeons at Great Ormond Street children’s hospital operated today to separate conjoined twins Hussan and Hussein Benhaffaf, who were born in London last December. The hospital declined to comment on the boys’ condition at the request of the parents, Angie and Azzedine Benhaffaf. A statement is expected on Thursday.

The family lives in East Cork, Ireland, but the twins’ mother travelled to University College Hospital in London to give birth after scans showed they were conjoined. They returned to the care of Cork University maternity hospital then went home, where they have been helped to grow stronger to give them the best possible chance of surviving the operation.

The parents, who have two daughters, Malika, four, and Iman, two, asked to be allowed to spend some time at home without intrusion from the press or public prior to the surgery. The family has now entered into an agreement with ITV, which is making a programme about the twins.