Erdogan, however, hinted that no immediate military action was planned.

"We could send the motion to parliament tomorrow," he said in an interview with CNN Turk television late Wednesday, adding that a vote on the motion was likely to take place next week.

He said the government was planning to seek a one year authorisation for an incursion into northern Iraq.

"It does not mean that everything will happen once we have the authorisation," he said. "We want to have the authorisation in hand so as to make a swift decision when it becomes necessary."

Under Turkish law, parliament must authorise any deployment of Turkish troops abroad.

Exasperated by mounting separatist Kurdish violence and Iraqi inaction against rebel bases, Ankara decided Tuesday to employ all measures, "including a cross-border operation if necessary," to combat the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Ankara says the PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and much of the international community, enjoys free movement in northern Iraq and obtains weapons and explosives there for attacks across the border in Turkey.

It has accused the Iraqi Kurds, who run the region, of tolerating and even supporting the rebels.

Fifteen soldiers were killed in rebel attacks in southeast Turkey at the weekend, triggering a public uproar and increasing pressure on the government to take tougher action.

Erdogan expressed frustration with what Turkey considers the US failure to help end the PKK safe haven in northern Iraq.

A series of consultations between a US and a Turkish representative, appointed to coordinate joint efforts against the PKK "did not produce the expected results," he told CNN Turk.

"It turned out to be period of wasted time," he said. "They (the US) say they are against the PKK. If you are against, then you should do what is necessary."

The United States on Wednesday again warned its NATO ally against unilateral military action in northern Iraq.

The United States is concerned that such action will destabilise a relatively peaceful region of conflict-torn Iraq and fuel tensions between Ankara and the Iraqi Kurds, a staunch US ally.

The PKK has waged a bloody campaign for Kurdish self-rule in southeast Turkey since 1984. The conflict has claimed more than 37,000 lives.