To cries of "stop the Turkish invasion" and brandishing banners, several hundred men, women and children, many in traditional dress, gathered outside the White House, where Bush was due to meet with Erdogan.

"We urge you, Mr President, to do all that you can to dissuade Turkey from carrying out military operations inside Iraqi Kurdistan and to continue calling for dialogue and diplomacy as a means to find a peaceful resolution to this issue," said a letter which the demonstrators handed in to the White House.

"We want to send a clear message to President Bush not to give the green light for any invasion" by Turkish troops, said Isa Chalky, who had travelled to Washington from Tennessee for the demonstration.

After attacks by suspected Kurdish rebels killed 15 Turkish soldiers in three days, the Turkish parliament voted on October 17 to authorize the army to conduct military incursions against bases of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq.

A dozen Turkish protesters held up banners proclaiming "Stop PKK terrorism" on the pavement opposite the Kurdish demonstration at the White House.

Police intervened quickly when the two sides looked as if they would come to blows.