IRISH conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf were continuing to recover at a London hospital yesterday after a successful 14-hour operation to separate them.

Cork City Council officials have said they are to consider a civic reception for the children's return home although it is likely they will remain in intensive care for the rest of the week.

President Mary McAleese has sent her best wishes and is believed to be keen to meet the boys and their parents Angie and Azzedine and sisters Malika (4) and Iman (2).

The twins are recovering in the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. Doctors say the procedure took six hours less than originally expected. The twins did not share any major organs. The operation was led by Cork-born professor Dr Edward Kiely and involved a team of 20 doctors and specialist nurses.