Conjoined twin girls separated by Chinese doctors on Saturday are both in stable condition, doctors said yesterday in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province.

　　The girls, Bao Bao and Bei Bei, were born joined at the chest and abdomen on January 2. Their parents are farmers in the province's Handan City.

　　The infants can now drink milk without the aid of a stomach tube, said Dr Fu Song, a surgeon with the No. 1 Hospital attached to Hebei Medical University in Shijiazhuang.

　　Before the three-hour operation, the livers, ribs and midriffs of the two infants were almost completely linked, Fu said.

　　Bei Bei, the younger twin, was diagnosed with a genetic heart condition and remained a concern. Doctors said her life would be in danger for up to 12 months if another operation was not performed.

　　Bei Bei is still too weak for further surgery. A heart operation was planned as soon as she recovered from the separation surgery, Fu said.

　　The hospital performed the operation for free and will continue caring for the infants without charge.

　　(Xinhua)