Premier Silvio Berlusconi told Italians on Monday the country needed to focus on helping L'Aquila and worry about the possibility of forecasting quakes once the emergency is over.
Speaking to reporters after surveying the damage from a helicopter, the premier said: ''now is not the time for discussion''.
''We need to react, do things. Once we've taken care of everything then we can begin to talk about whether it is possible to forecast earthquakes''.
The premier said he had received a phone call from centre-left opposition leader Dario Franceschini voicing solidarity and best wishes for the relief operations.
Berlusconi said he had called an emergency cabinet meeting at 7 pm local time to earmark funds to handle the emergency.
