"The preparations for a motion have started and are continuing," the Anatolia news agency quoted Erdogan as saying.

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

The motion could be submitted to parliament as early as next week, political sources said.

Exasperated by mounting separatist Kurdish violence and Iraqi inaction against rebel bases, Ankara said Tuesday it would 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 cross-border attacks in Turkish territory.