BBC news with Nick Kelly

Two strong earthquakes have struck northwestern Iran in quick succession. Officials say 180 people have been killed and more than 1300 injured, all links to the affected region near the city of Tabriz are cut, making it difficult for the authorities to determine the scale of the injuries and damage. Mohsen Asgari reports.

More than 60 villages have been heavily damaged and are in need of help. A lawmaker in the quake-stricken city of Ahar also said that the villages are seriously damaged. People poured into streets. They are in a state of completely panic more than 10 aftershocks have stricken the provinces since this afternoon. Heavy traffic jams are reported in the area, police asked the people to stay at home and follow up the news from radio. Telephone lines are still cut and links to most of the villages are totally cut.

The American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the US is working closely with the Turkish government to coordinate their response to the deepening crisis in Syria. After meeting with Turkish leader, she said both countries were working together in efforts to support the Syrian opposition and preparing for the phase after the fall of the President Assad government. From Istanbul, Bethany Bell reports.Mrs.

Clinton says the US will give another five million dollars in humanitarian aid to the people fleeing the crisis in Syria. She described her meetings with Syrian refugees who she said had told her terrible stories of cruelty and violence. She praised Turkey for its response to the conflict and said the two countries would be working closely to coordinate efforts to support the Syrian opposition as they prepared for the day after President Assad.