Los Angeles, June 15 (DPA) Surgeons successfully separated 10-month-old conjoined twins, who have two legs each but share many vital organs, after a mammoth operation at Los Angeles' Children's Hospital, news reports said.

The conjoined twins, whose breastbones, livers, intestines and pelvises were fused, were separated midway through the operation late Wednesday. A second operation to reconstruct the girls' chests, organs, pelvises and body walls is on. It could last 24 hours.

Regina and Renata Salinas Fierros were born Aug 2, 2005. Their parents, Sonia and Federico Salinas, were visiting relatives during the pregnancy last year when it was determined that the twins were conjoined. The Salinases decided to stay in the US to deliver the babies.

About 80 doctors and staff members were involved in the operation.

In the last 40 years five pairs of conjoined twins have undergone separation surgery at Los Angeles' Children's Hospital. In three cases both children survived.

--DPA