"Turkey should contribute to peace and human rights not by joining the illegitimate occupation of Iraq but by refusing to join it," said a statement from the Human Rights Advisory Board, overseen by the prime minister's office.

The Turkish parliament on Tuesday authorised the government to dispatch troops to Iraq for a maximum of one year, leaving the size, location and time of the deployment to be worked out in negotiations with the United States.

The board -- an umbrella group bringing together representatives from the government and civic organizations -- said the deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq would lead to a "state of war that would cause gross human rights violations and the deaths of thousands of young people."

"Our board calls on the government not to use its authorisation," the statement said.

Tuesday's authorisation came despite staunch public opposition to the idea.

Hundreds of Turks took the streets on Wednesday in protest at Tuesday's parliament decision in nationwide demonstrations in which 60 people were detained.

WAR.WIRE