Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Baghdad played a key role in securing Sunday's release of eight Turkish soldiers who were held hostage by the PKK since October 21.

"It shows that Baghdad is doing its best to eliminate the PKK," Dabbagh told AFP. "It is an assurance to Turkey that we are doing our utmost."

Dabbagh's comment came as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was set to meet US President George W. Bush on Monday to seek concrete measures from Washington to crack down on the rebels.

On Sunday, the PKK handed over the eight soldiers to senior officials from northern Iraq's Kurdish government.

The soldiers were captured when PKK fighters attacked a Turkish military patrol and killed another 12 troops. Ankara has since threatened to launch an incursion into northern Iraq to flush out the guerrillas.

Earlier on Monday, a PKK commander voiced concern that the rebels might become the target of a crackdown in northern Iraq under pressure from Turkey, a news agency close to the PKK reported.

Murat Karayilan called on the Kurdish leadership of northern Iraq not to cooperate with Turkey in any new action.