Syrian Siamese twins to be separated in Saudi

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has ordered local health authorities to bring in Syrian Siamese twin girls to be separated in the Gulf Kingdom in response to pleas by their father, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Tuqa and Yaqin, attached by their heads, live in the northern Syrian town of Riqa and their father has been unable to take them to hospital for lack of medical equipment in the conflict-battered Arab country.

The father, who has 11 children, appeared in the Saudi daily ‘Sabq’ nearly four months ago to appeal for King Abdullah to treat his twins.

“The Monarch has just issued instructions for the treatment of Tuqa and Yaqin. They will be brought in shortly to undergo a separation surgery,” the paper said.