TEHRAN -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan Saturday expressed sympathy for victims of an earthquake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, which hit various provinces in the western part of Iran.

A press release faxed Sunday by the UN Information Center here quoted Annan as saying, in a statement released in New York, that he "was deeply saddened by the tragedy and wished to convey his condolences and deepest sympathy to the government of Iran and to the victims of the disaster." The spokesman further said that since Saturday the office for UN coordination of humanitarian affairs has been in contact with Iranian authorities through the UN resident representative's office here.

The office has offered its assistance in ongoing relief efforts, including the deployment of a UN disaster assessment and coordination team to work with the national emergency management authorities in coordinating international response to the emergency.