"The United States thinks it is a good step, but we see it as an unnecessary step," said Mahmud Othman.

"The talks are still going on," he said, adding that the US-led coalition "have to listen to the Iraqi people and to the Turkish people."

He said that most Turks also opposed sending their soldiers to Iraq. "The Turks can help in a different way," said Othman, a Kurd.

Iraqi Kurds, who have chilly ties with Ankara, are particularly hostile to the idea, wary that Turkey, which has long been accused of oppressing its own restive Kurds, wants to thwart their political gains.

The Turkish parliament gave the green light on Tuesday for the deployment of Turkish troops to Iraq for a maximum of one year, leaving the decision on the size, location and timing of the deployment to the government.

US and Turkish officials are expected to start talks soon to finalize the details, a process which could take up to two weeks.

Ankara has signalled it is ready to contribute up to 10,000 soldiers.

Earlier in the year Turkish parliament blocked plans to allow US troops to deploy through Turkey in its invasion of Iraq.

WAR.WIRE