Zebari, himself a Kurd, echoed Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in arguing that the Baghdad government wanted to halt the operations of anti-Turkey Kurdish rebels operating out of northern Iraq.

But speaking on CNN from New York, he added: "As for the Turkish troops' buildup, we are concerned, definitely."

Any cross-border incursion by Turkey would "destabilize the only part of Iraq" that has largely escaped the insurgency gripping the rest of the country, Zebari said.

"It would create more imbalance and more instability," he said.

"And we're in consultation with the Turkish government to ease this tension. Because any confrontation would not be in the interest of Iraq, Turkey or anybody else."

Turkey has repeatedly demanded tougher action from Iraq and the United States against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and refuses to rule out acting unilaterally if its demands are not heeded.

During a meeting with Turkey's envoy to Baghdad, Derya Kanbay, Maliki said Sunday that Iraq "was concerned about the operations of PKK that result in the killing of innocent victims."

"We are keen to prevent PKK from carrying out activities in Iraq," a statement from Maliki's office quoted him as saying.