RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — A Saudi surgeon says an Iraqi twin who was joined at the hip with her sister has died after separation surgery in Saudi Arabia.
The conjoined twins, Zainab and Ruqqaya Naseer, were born June 5 in the Shiite holy city of Najaf in southern Iraq. They were joined at the hips and had problems with their digestive and reproductive systems.
Saudi King Abdullah had the twins flown to Riyadh and paid for their surgery, which took place in mid-July.
Chief surgeon Abdullah al-Rabia says Ruqqaya had major pre-existing health problems, including a deformed skull, and died on Saturday. He says the surviving twin is in stable condition.
Al-Rabia has performed nearly 30 successful surgeries on conjoined twins from 16 countries.
