President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has expressed shock over the untimely death of conjoined twins before operations at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in the capital Lilongwe.

Speaking during a media briefing at Kamuzu Palace in the capital Lilongwe, Mutharika said he is deeply saddened with the death, saying he could have loved to see the children separated successfully.

The conjoined twins were scheduled for operation on Thursday morning.

According to officials, the babies were struggling to breath, and efforts to resuscitate them by medical personnel failed.

On Wednesday Doctor Carlos Velera was scheduled to lead a team of other doctors to try and separate the twins but the surgery did not take place because there was no blood.