[20 February 2005] CAIRO,(Saba) - Egyptian doctors removed an undeveloped head that was linked to the skull of a 10-month-old girl, an official from the health ministry said.

Manar Maged was in a serious but improving condition after the procedure to treat her for craniopagus parasiticus a problem related to that of conjoined twins linked at the skull, Abla el-Alfy, a consultant in paediatric
intensive care said at the hospital Benha near Cairo.

The operation on Saturday lasted about 13 hours and that the girl, is now in intensive care, he added.

TD/KM

SABA