According to reports by IRNA, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 degrees on the open-ended Richter scale shook eastern parts of the northern Iranian province of Golestan early Wednesday.

The seismological base of Minoudasht affiliated to the Geophysics Institute of Tehran University said the quake occurred at 04:00 hours local time (0030 GMT) with its epicenter in south of Minoudasht.

There were no immediate reports of any casualty or damage to property.

Iran is situated on some of the world's seismic faultlines and quakes of varying magnitudes are of usual occurrences.

Since 1991, over 950 earthquakes have hit the country resulting in the death of 17,600 people and injuries to 53,300 others.

... Payvand News - 3/12/03 ... --