Mubarak pays tribute to victims of Turkey's earthquake

In a personal phone call with Turkish President Suleiman Demirel and Prime Minster Bulent Ecevit, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak expressed Egypt's readiness to present all help to the Turkish authorities that is necessary for the rescue process after sending two military planes carrying tents and supplies.

President Mubarak expressed his condolences to the families of the earthquake's victims and to the Turkish president.

The earthquake resulted in at least 2,000 deaths and 10,000 injuries and caused power outages nationwide that obstructed the rescue operations and had a negative effect on telecommunications and transportation, forcing the Turkish stock exchange to close.

Many aftershocks were felt, but they were lesser in force than the first earthquake, which was 6.7 on the Richter scale.

The Center for the Earthquake Observation said the earthquake destroyed thousands of houses, complete towns and mosques and caused fires in many towns.

The earthquake completely destroyed the bridge between Ankara and Istanbul.

Meanwhile, the prison where Condemned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan is imprisoned wasn't affected by the earthquake.