There was no immediate confirmation from Ankara, although some Turkish media reported that the incursion to flush out separatist fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was over.

"Turkey ended its military operation today morning and has started withdrawing its troops," Zebari told AFP.

"We welcome this move. We have always maintained that there are other ways to end PKK terrorism," he said.

A PKK spokesman said all Turkish troops had already withdrawn from the Zap region -- a key rebel stronghold close to the border with Turkey.

Turkish television footage showed dozens of military trucks loaded with soldiers crossing into Turkey from the border town of Cukurca, while empty vehicles were seen climbing mountainous roads in the opposition direction.

The NTV news channel said the cross-border incursion, which began late on February 21, had ended at midnight Thursday.

An unnamed military source, however, told CNN Turk television that "only troops who have completed their mission are returning home" -- suggesting that other forces might stay inside Iraq.

The Turkish army said it would make a statement later in the day.

Turkey has come under growing US and Iraqi pressure in recent days to withdraw from the region, amid concerns that its military operation against the PKK might escalate into a broader conflict with Iraqi Kurdish groups.

Turkish warplanes bombed PKK positions in northern Iraq overnight, but the situation was quiet on the ground Friday morning, NTV said.

It quoted an Iraqi Kurdish official as saying that Turkish military activity had ceased in the region of Zap, although a spokesman for the Iraqi Kurd security forces said there were still reports of clashes and air strikes.

Turkish troops rolled into northern Iraq just over a week ago to crack down on an estimated 4,000 PKK rebels who use the region as a springboard for cross-border attacks as part of their separatist campaign for self-rule in southeast Turkey.

US pressure on Turkey to wrap up the operation mounted Thursday as President George W. Bush said its forces should pull out "as quickly as possible" and Defence Secretary Robert Gates personally conveyed the US message to Turkish leaders in Ankara.

The Turkish military should "move quickly, achieve their objective and then get out... as quickly as possible," Bush said.

Washington is concerned that a prolonged incursion could spark a wider conflict between Turkish forces and the Iraqi Kurds, who run the autonomous administration of northern Iraq and are staunch US supporters.

Turkey has long accused Iraqi Kurds of providing the PKK with safe haven and weapons, and warned them this week not to shelter rebels fleeing the fighting.

The United States, which like Turkey lists the PKK as a terrorist group, has supported its NATO ally during the incursion with intelligence on PKK movements.

Ankara on Thursday had refused to commit itself to a pullout timetable.

"Turkey will remain in northern Iraq as long as necessary" and the troops will return home once PKK hideouts are destroyed, Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul said after talks with Gates.

The Turkish army says its has killed at least 237 militants and destroyed dozens of PKK hideouts, logistical bases and ammunition depots.

It has put its losses at 27 men.

The PKK claims to have killed around 100 soldiers, lost five and to have downed a Turkish attack helicopter.

The rebels took up arms for self-rule in Kurdish-majority southeast Turkey in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed more than 37,000 lives.