Ankara, which fears that the Kurds may declare an independent state and spark unrest among its own Kurdish minority, has repeatedly warned it would not allow them to seize the cities of Kirkuk and Mosul which sit amidst one of the country's largest oilfields, and has threatened to send troops in the area.

"The United States has to take measures against possible developments in the region with an approach taking into account Turkey's sensitivities," said the National Security Council which brings together the top civilian and military officials.

While reaffirming Ankara's decade-old alliance with Washington, the council said the government was determined to protect the country's interests in the Kurdish-held region of northern Iraq.

Iraqi Kurds have said in the past they want Kirkuk for their "capital", but under US pressure have pledged not to declare independence.

Ankara has feared that US forces, which have begun to open a second northern front against Iraqi forces, will be tempted to arm Iraqi Kurdish "peshmergas" and enlist their help to capture Mosul and Kirkuk.

Those fears were likely confirmed by the advance Friday by Kurdish rebels to within 16 kilometers (10 miles) of the center of Kirkuk, reportedly with the help of US special forces.

The first major move in the frontline in northern Iraq came after the United States airdropped 1,000 troops and flew in special forces teams into rebel-held areas on Thursday.

The United States had earlier promised Turkey that its own forces would take the cities and control access into them, but US war plans have been frustrated by Ankara's refusal to let its ground troops enter northern Iraq through Turkish territory.

The National Security Council said Turkey stood ready to send its own troops into northern Iraq to stop refugees and to deal with Turkish Kurdish rebels hiding in the region if Turkish troops already in the border region were unable to cope with the situation.

The United States have repeatedly warned Ankara against such a move, fearing it could complicate its own military campaign in the area and trigger clashes between Turkish forces and local Kurds.

WAR.WIRE