Doctors at Saudi Arabia's Abha Maternity Hospital say they have threatened to call the police unless the mother of seven week old septuplets takes them home. All seven of the prematurely born babies have survived and doctors say their nursery is now crowded beyond capacity. Our correspondent, Frank Gardiner reports from Dubai.

When 40-year-old Saudi housewife Hasna Mohammed Humair gave birth to seven babies in January she was something of a sensation. The successful delivery of her four sons and three daughters in the mountain town of Abha made her only the third mother in the world to give birth to live septuplets but seven weeks on the novelty has begun to wear off.

Mrs Humair complains of being constantly tired and says she's not ready to care for such a large family at home. She says the multiple pregnancy was unplanned and occured while taking a fertility drug to regulate her menstrual cycle.

Meanwhile the Abha Maternity Hospital is finding its small resources stretched beyond capacity. More than a quarter of the babies in the 20 bed nursery belong to Mrs Humair and doctors are now putting heavy pressure on her to leave.

Although local companies are said to be supplying her with free milk and nappies, family finances are clearly going to be a problem. The 55-year-old father draws a pension of just over $1,000 a month, an income on which he has other demands.