BAM, Dec 31: The Stars and Stripes received a rare welcome in Iran on Wednesday as US medics joined efforts to help survivors of last week's earthquake.

UN officials said about 40,000 people were now left in Bam - most spending the bitterly cold nights in tents - out of an original population of 103,000.

The remainder were either dead, missing, in hospital or had left town. The 80-strong US team of medics and relief experts arrived in Iran on Sunday and reached Bam on Tuesday evening.

"For Americans to come here and help us in such a situation, I really appreciate it and all Iranians appreciate it," said a religious leader, Sheikh Ahmad Faiz, as US relief workers erected a tent bearing a large US flag.

The US government broke ties with Tehran shortly after the 1979 revolution and the American flag is routinely burned during official anti-US demonstrations.

Marty Bahamonde, spokesman for a US disaster relief body, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the lack of diplomatic ties had slowed things up but his team had been warmly received. "At every stop, they have opened their hearts," he said. -Reuters