Sextuplets born in Berlin clinic

No pictures of the six babies were available immediately

The first German sextuplets for 20 years have been born in a clinic in the capital Berlin and are said to be in a stable condition.

Independent specialists said that the four girls and two boys, who each weigh between 800 and 900 grams (1.8-2lb), had a good chance of survival.

The first confirmed case of sextuplets surviving past infancy was recorded in Cape Town in South Africa in 1974.

They remain rare, occurring in about one out of 4.5m pregnancies.

Correspondents say multiple births have become more common with the advent of hormone therapies and in vitro fertilisation.

The babies were born prematurely at 27 weeks in Berlin's Charite clinic on Thursday, the clinic said on Monday.

The names of the parents were not being released immediately.