Ayatollah Khameneh'i was indirectly responding to Iranian and foreign relief missions growing complaints about the lack of coordination, four days after the earth shake.

Preceding the President Mohammad Khatami by half a day, Ayatollah Khameneh'i said the creation of such a centre was "a necessity" to avoid waste of time and energy from both Iranian and foreign rescue and relief teams.

Speaking to the grieved people of the ancient city that, according to latest official estimates, has lost at least 25.000 of its inhabitants, Mr. Khameneh’i said the tragedy was a "divine test" which should not weaken our spirit and promised to rebuild the city on more solid foundations.

"We should strengthen our spirit to leave behind the bitter tragedy. Many nations which had been victims to great tragedies managed to build on the destruction and came out making progress and advance."

However, relief experts from some 26 countries, including the United States and Iranians doctors said the risk of epidemic spreading must be taken very seriously, as the city still lack all essential services like running water, electricity and sanitary.

Though a six months old baby have been found on Monday under tonnes of ruins, but most experts say one should not expect more "miracles", in an old city 1000 metres above sea level, where temperature is freezing, mostly by nigh time.

"There is enough of everything, but one had the impression that everything is missing, particularly heavy machinery like bulldozers and tents", one journalist on the sport reported, adding that popular solidarity for the grieved people of Bam was "overwhelming".

"I just arrested a thief who had stolen tens of blankets and tents from one truck belonging to a foreign relief mission while nearby people were warming themselves with bonfire in the open", a policeman said.

To stop the robbers, the judiciary announced it was setting up a court in the area to bring swift justice to armed bandits, who have been seen prowling the streets, and other criminals.

According to the Interior Ministry and local officials, 25.000 corpses have been buried, many in common graves, a procedure forbidden by Islam, the nation’s dominating religion.