Syrian President Bashar al Assad makes first visit to earthquake victims

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma are making their first visit to the northern province of Aleppo following the deadly earthquake.

Images published by the Syrian Presidency shows Bashar and his wife greeting hospital staff and patients at the Aleppo Teaching Hospital.

In Syria, at least 3,377 people have been killed, according to figures from the Damascus government and a rescue organisation operating in rebel-held northwestern Syria.

The US has ruled out working with Syria but has temporarily eased its sanctions policy. 

The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which is in charge of sanctions, has issued "Syria General License (GL) 23", which it says will authorise any transactions that are otherwise prohibited by US sanctions on Syria if they are related to earthquake relief.

The European Union has asked member states to “respond favourably” to an official plea from the Syrian government.