The two-year-old Indian girl born with four arms and four legs was showing the first sign of improvement today after an operation to remove the extra limbs, doctors said.

A gruelling, 24-hour-long operation to remove the extra limbs of a girl born with four arms and four legs was a spectacular success, leaving her in stable condition, doctors announced today.

DOCTORS began operating on Tuesday on a two-year-old girl born with four arms and four legs in an extensive surgery they hope will leave the girl with a normal body, a hospital official said.

A two-year-old girl born with four arms and four legs will undergo extensive surgery in India today, according to media reports.

British author Salman Rushdie has filed for divorce from his wife of three years.

The steel giant owned by British-based tycoon Lakshmi Mittal was today facing a battle to convince European powerbrokers of the merits of its £12.7bn (€18.5bn) bid for Arcelor.