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Turkey-Iraq talks stop after 90 minutes

ANKARA, Oct 26, 2007 (AFP) - Talks here between Turkish and Iraqi ministers to avert military action by Ankara in northern Iraq were interrupted after an hour and a half and it was not immediately known if and when they would resume, an Iraqi embassy official said.

Iraq's Minister of Defence Abdel Qader Mohammed Jassim and National Security Minister Shirwan al-Waeli were back at the suburban Police Guest House where they are staying, awaiting word from the Turkish side on what the next step will be, the official said.

The two met Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and Interior Minister Besir Atalay at the Foreign Ministry here Friday morning and media reports said Babacan had gone to General Staff headquarters for consultations.

The NTV news channel said Atalay had gone to inform Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on the second and final day of an official visit to Romania, of the developments.

Turkish officials were unavailable for comment.