EUR: World leaders offer sympathy, aid, to quake-hit Italy
06 Apr 2009 10:57 PM
PARIS, April 6 AFP - World leaders expressed their sympathy Saturday for victims of the deadly earthquake that killed more than 90 people in central Italy, and queued up to offer aid.
Authorities say at least 92 people were killed in the quake and 1500 injured.
US President Barack Obama sent a message of sympathy from Turkey, where he started a two-day visit on Monday.
"We want to send our condolences to the families there and hope that we are able to get rescue teams in," Obama said from Ankara.
>From Vatican City in Rome, 100km southwest of the heart of the quake zone, Pope Benedict XVI sent his prayers to the victims in L'Aquila, the capital of the Abruzzo region.
In a telegram to the archbishop of L'Aquila, the pope said he was praying for the "victims, especially the children," killed in the earthquake, said the Vatican.
The earthquake struck L'Aquila just after 3.30am (1130 AEST) on Monday and lasted about 30 seconds, bringing down many Renaissance-era and Baroque buildings, including the dome on L'Aquila Cathedral.
Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi cancelled a planned trip to Moscow so he could head to the quake zone.
"I am leaving for L'Aquila. I have cancelled my trip to Moscow because I think the situation is such that the presence of the head of government at the scene could be useful," Berlusconi told Italian television.
Earlier Monday he declared a state of emergency after the quake, which the Italian geophysical institute measured at magnitude 6.2.
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev sent his condolences from Moscow.
"Russia is shocked by this tragedy," he said in a telegram to Berlusconi.
"We sympathise with those who have suffered and share their sorrow."
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also expressed his sympathy in a message to Berlusconi.
"It was with great sadness that I learned of the tragic earthquake overnight at L'Aquila, causing numerous victims," he said.
"I want to address to you in my name and that of the European Commission my most sincere condolences," he added, sending his "greatest solidarity and deepest sympathy".
French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his "deep sympathy" and solidarity in a message to Berlusconi.
"My thoughts are in particular with the injured, and with all those who have lost a loved one, to whom I ask you to pass on my most sad regards," said the message, released by his office.
>From Belgrade, Serbian President Boris Tadic sent a message of sympathy to his Italian counterpart, Giorgio Napoletano.
Similar messages came from Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva and Bulgaria's Georgy Parvanov.
"The citizens of Serbia sincerely sympathise with the Italian people because of the great number of victims and the enormous material damage," he wrote.
With officials on the ground warning the death toll of at least 50 would rise and rescue teams searching the rubble for survivors, Italy's European partners have been quick to offer their help.
The European Union, Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Israel and Russia immediately stepped forward with offers of aid, officials told the ANSA agency.
But Italian civil protection head Agostino Miozzo said such aid was not immediately needed.
