Iranian Jews set up fund-raising centers for quake victims
Iranian Jews Sunday set up centers at synagogues in Tehran and four other cities to collect donations to help quake-stricken people in the city of Bam, announced Iran's Jewish Societym, IRNA reported from Tehran.

photo: ISNA

The centers are set up in synagogues in Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd and Kermanshah.

The society also called on the Iranian Jews to once again show their solidarity with their fellow countrymen through referring to the centers and helping the quake victims.

A killer quake with a magnitude of 6.3 on Richter scale jolted Bam, in Kerman Province, southeastern Iran, on Friday at 05:28 hours local time (0158 GMT).

The latest death toll stood at 14,000 as 2,000 of them succumbed to their injuries despite medical treatment, Kerman Governor General's Office said Sunday.

Some 30,000 people have been so far reported injured.

Iranian Armenians ready to assist quake-stricken people
Iranian Armenians residing in northwestern province of Azarbaijan, voiced readiness on Sunday to extend relief assistance to victims of a devastating quake which hit the historical city of Bam southeast Iran Friday, IRNA reported from Tabriz.

photo: ISNA

Armenians' Prelacy Council in northwestern province of Azarbaijan said in a statement on Sunday that Armenians' donations either in cash or in kind will be put at the disposal of the the Red Crescent Society (RCS) for distribution among the victims.

The council condoled with Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, President Mohammad Khatami, and bereaved families of the victims on the tragic event, praying to the God Almighty to grant patience to the survivors and for immediate recovery of the injured.

Relief supplies have been extended to quake-hit people since Friday by Iranians and 27 other countries. 40 countries have so far pledged aid for the victims.

Special banking accounts have reportedly been opened in Moscow, Yerevan and Kiev for the purpose.