Italian Prime Minister prepares for state of emergency

As thousands of people were left homeless by the powerful earthquake that shook northern Italy, Prime Minister Mario Monti has cut short his visit to a Nato summit to return back to Italy.

He is expected to visit the region - near the city of Bologna - next Monday.

A state of emergency has already been declared in the Po Valley, as the number of those killed by the earthquake rose to seven.

The government is expected to declare a state of emergency at a meeting on Tuesday, as Monti's  cabinet undersecretary Antonio Catricala said the Prime Minister had no intention of leaving the situation in the hand of the local authorities.

3,000 people already have had to leave their homes following the initial quake and several significant aftershocks.

The tremors seriously damaged many historic churches and other buildings, adding up to the greatest loss to Italy's artistic heritage since an earthquake in 1997 ravaged the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, where the ceiling collapsed.

The imposing 14th-century Estense Castle, symbol of the town of San Felice Sul Panaro and its most important building, was severely damaged.