Saturday, April 1 2006 10:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: The United Nations is sending an inter-agency assessment team to Iran after a devastating earthquake killed at least 70 people there and is ready to provide any aid that may be needed.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the team comprises representatives from the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme.

The assessment team is ready to provide any aid that may be needed and to mobilise international assistance, it said.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a statement, said he was 'deeply saddened' by the loss of life and destruction suffered by people of Iran because of yesterday's quake.