Plane Carrying Aid Of Red Crescent And Search-rescue Team To Leave For Iran

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul called his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharazi on the phone on Friday, and offered his condolences to those who lost their relatives in the quake disaster.
During the telephone conversation, Gul told Kharazi that Turkey was ready to send all kinds of aid to Iran.
Noting that the Turkish Red Crescent had mobilized right after the quake disaster, Gul said that Turkey could provide Iran with assistance in search and rescue efforts or in provision of tents, blankets and medical equipment.
Following the telephone conversation, the official search and rescue teams were sent to Iran through a special unit established in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The plane is also carrying the aid equipment of the Red Crescent.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has exchanged views with private search and rescue teams about their leaving for Iran.
An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit Bam city of Iran at 5:28 a.m. Iranian time. According to preliminary reports more than 4 thousand people lost their lives and about 30 thousand people were wounded since the quake hit the city when most of the people were in bed, raising fears that the death toll may go higher.
IRAN HAS REQUESTED AID EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS
TEHRAN - Turkish Ambassador to Iran Selahattin Alpar has said, ''Iran has requested aid equipment as well as search-and-rescue and health teams.''
Responding questions of the A.A correspondent on Friday, Alpar said, ''I called Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's chief advisor Ali Khatami on the phone right after the quake disaster in Bam city. I expressed our profound sorrow over loss of lives in the disaster, and said that Turkey was ready to send search-and-rescue teams.''
''The Iranian Red Crescent has requested Turkey to send search-and rescue and health teams as well as generator, blankets, tents and medical equipment. The Turkish Red Crescent has holding perpetual talks with Iranian Red Crescent. About two military cargo planes carrying search-and-rescue and health teams and aid equipment are expected to leave for Iran soon,'' he added.
An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit Bam city of Iran at 5:28 a.m. Iranian time. According to preliminary reports more than 4 thousand people lost their lives and about 30 thousand people were wounded since the quake hit the city when most of the people were in bed, raising fears that the death toll may go higher.
(UK-AY) 26.12.2003