Speaking during a visit to Romania, Erdogan said US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was welcome to voice hopes that Turkey would not overstep its border in its fight against the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"But any decision on the necessity of such an incursion belongs to us," he said, adding that Ankara would have no hesitation in launching an attack against PKK bases in northern Iraq if the situation demanded it.

Erdogan drew a comparison to the US military intervention in Iraq.

"Are people not asking themselves what the Americans are doing in Iraq, 10,000 kilometres away from home?" he said.

"I'm bothered (by the PKK)," he said. "What are the Americans bothered about in Iraq?"

"Our security forces are determined to move as soon as the situation arises," Erdogan told a joint news conference with Romanian Premier Calin Tariceanu.

"Our target is the terrorist organisation, the PKK, not civilians or the entire territory of Iraq," he said, adding that he thought that the Iraqis "won't continue to shelter this organisation which has found refuge in northern Iraq."

The comments came shortly after Turkish President Abdullah Gul had said in Ankara that his country's patience was at an end and that it was determined to eradicate the PKK's bases in northern Iraq.

Erdogan is on a two-day visit to Romania and is scheduled to meet with Romanian President Traian Basescu later on Thursday.