Injured Iraqi boy arrives in London

Ali has responded well to treatment

An Iraqi boy who lost both arms in a bombing raid has arrived in London to have prosethetic arms fitted at a specialist clinic.

Ali Ismaeel Abbas, 13, was injured and burned in an allied attack on Baghdad in which his parents and many members of his family died.

At first he was given only a 50% chance of survival, but he has responded well to treatment, including three months of plastic surgery in Kuwait.

He landed in a private jet at RAF Northolt in west London at 1500 BST on Thursday, along with 14-year-old Ahmed Mohammed Hamza who lost his left leg below the knee and his right hand.

On Monday they will be admitted to Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton, south west London for assessment.

Spokesman Mark Purcell said staff at the hospital's rehabilitation centre were honoured to have been chosen by the Kuwaiti government.

Ali knows his compatriots will not receive the same (treatment). Shadow international development secretary Caroline Spelman

He said: "We have had a relationship with Kuwait for some time and people have come to our centre from there before.

"One of our technicians is Arab-speaking which is helpful."

"We are looking forward to welcoming them and as soon as they arrive with us a team of doctors, prosthetists, therapists and technicians will assess their needs."

The Limbless Association, which runs the rehabilitation centre at the hospital, has raised more than £275,000 towards the cost of the boys' care and treatment.

Shadow international development secretary Caroline Spelman, who visited Ali twice while he was in hospital in Kuwait, was among those welcoming him.

Real honour for UK

She said: "I think it is a real honour for our country to have been chosen by the Kuwaiti authorities and the families of Ali and Ahmed for Ali and his friend to receive world class treatment for their injuries.

"Ali has always said he wanted to come to the UK and the press attention he has received has enabled him to do this.

"He acknowledges that this is not normal and knows his compatriots will not receive the same.

"He hopes that through him, others may also be able to receive the same high quality treatment."

Ali was taken to Kuwait following the missile strike which killed his parents, brother and 13 other relations.

Kuwait's health minister, Mohammed al-Jarrallah, accompanied the two boys and their relatives to the airport and said their initial visit was expected to last three months.

"As far as we are concerned, we are committed to treating them until they are fully grown", he said.