The statement came three days after Turkish warplanes carried out new raids against suspected Kurdish rebel rear-bases in northern Iraq.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's office quoted Turkish special envoy Murat Ozcelik a saying that Erdogan has "expressed his readiness to visit Iraq in the near future."

Ozcelik met Maliki at his office in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on Tuesday. The statement did not specify when the Turkish premier's visit was expected.

Ozcelik underlined Turkey's desire to support Iraq in its efforts to advance stability and reconstruction.

"The Turkish envoy stressed his country has decided to send the best Turkish companies to contribute in Iraq's reconstruction and development," Maliki's office said.

It said a Turkish trade delegation would visit Iraq soon to determine "needs and priorities."

Turkish warplanes bombed suspected bases of the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq late on Saturday.

Aided by US intelligence, Turkey has carried out several air strikes against suspected rebel targets in the mountainous enclave since mid-December under a one-year authorisation from parliament that comes up for renewal in October.

In February, Turkish troops conducted a week-long ground offensive against a PKK camp in the Zap area. The operation left more than 200 rebels dead, according to the Turkish army.

Blacklisted as a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States, the PKK has been fighting for self-rule in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast since 1984. The conflict has claimed more than 37,000 lives.

Ankara charges that more than 2,000 Kurdish rebels have found safe haven in northern Iraq, where they are able to obtain weapons and explosives for attacks inside Turkey.