An Italian doctor has announced that the first cloned human being will be born in January.
Doctor Severino Antinori said three women he had been treating were carrying cloned embryos and were in the advanced stages of pregnancy.
Doctor Antinori said one woman's pregnancy was in its 33rd week and that the male foetus was healthy and had 'more than a 90% chance' of being born.
The gynaecologist also confirmed that one of the two other woman who are pregnant with cloned embryos, was in the 28th week of pregnancy, while the third woman was in the 27th week of pregnancy.
The doctor refused to name the country or countries concerned or provide further details, but said all three women were 'in the same geographical zone'.
The news has been met with scepticism by scientists who say the doctor has refused to submit his work for independent scrutiny.
Doctor Antinori made the headlines eight years ago when he helped a 62-year-old woman to have a baby.
