CAIRO, Dec 9: Two of Egypt's top Islamic scholars on Wednesday withdrew opposition to the practice of organ transplants, but stressed they be carried out only under certain conditions.

"It is permissible to transfer organs from a dead person to a living person on condition that the deceased left a will to that effect," the official MENA agency quoted the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Mohammed Said Tantawi, as telling participants at a conference on transplants.

In cases where there is no will, Sheikh Tantawi left it up to doctors to use their best judgment to decide what to do. Egypt's religious establishment has long opposed the practice of organ transplants, including the removal of organs from the dead. Scientists urged parliament to pass legislation approving and regulating the practice. -AFP