A Malian woman has given birth to nine babies - two more than doctors had detected inside her crowded womb - joining a small pantheon of mothers of nonuplets. The pregnancy of Halima Cisse (25), has fascinated the West African nation and attracted the attention of its leaders.

When doctors in March said Ms Cisse needed specialist care, authorities flew her to Morocco, where she gave birth on Tuesday.

"The newborns (five girls and four boys) and the mother are all doing well," Mali's Health Minister, Fanta Siby, said in a statement.

Ms Cisse was expected to give birth to seven babies, according to ultrasounds conducted in Morocco and Mali that missed two of the siblings.

All the babies were delivered by caesarean section.

Nonuplets are extremely rare. Medical complications in multiple births of this kind often mean that some of the babies do not reach full term.