"NATO, just as it stepped in to join the struggle against terrorism in Afghanistan, should ... perform the same duty here," Erdogan told reporters late Monday in western Turkey, where he is holidaying.

Erdogan's call came as Ankara becomes increasingly exasperated by US reluctance to crack down on rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), based in the mountains of northern Iraq since 1999.

Last week, Ankara threatend a cross-border operation if Washington and Baghdad failed to act against the rebels who use Kurdish-populated northern Iraq as a springboard for attacks inside Turkey.

The United States -- which, like Turkey, considers the PKK as a terrorist group -- has warned against unilateral cross-border action by Turkey and called for a joint effort by Ankara, Washington and Baghdad.

Erdogan said Ankara was willing to take part in such an effort, but stressed it was also prepared to send troops into Iraq if need be.

"It would be good if we could work on a trilateral effort and get results," he said, but added: "If not, we will take care of our own problems."

Turkey says thousands of armed PKK militants have found refuge in northern Iraq since 1999, when the group declared a unilateral ceasefire after the capture of its leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

The PKK called off the truce in 2004 and has since stepped up its attacks on government targets.

At least 94 PKK rebels and 56 members of the security forces have been killed in fighting this year, according to an AFP count.

Kurdish militants have also claimed responsibility for 11 bomb attacks in urban centres in 2006, in which nine people were killed and nearly 140 injured.

More than 37,000 people have been killed since 1984, when the PKK took up arms for self-rule in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast.