According to several witnesses in Silopi some 10 kilometers (six miles) from Iraq, between three and five strong explosions went off, shaking the walls and windows of houses in the town.

"We heard the blasts. I do not think that they were on our territory," a Turkish policeman who refused to give his name told AFP.

"I first thought it was an earthquake and then, when there were several detonations, I thought they were bombs," another policeman, who also wanted his name withheld, said.

It was the first time there were any explosions in the area since the launch of the US-led war against Iraq two weeks ago.

A large part of nearby northern Iraq is under the control of Iraqi Kurds, who are backing US and British efforts to force Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from office. On Wednesday, Saddam warned in Kurdish leaders in a letter read on Iraqi TV they would regret it if they maintained their alliance with the "invaders."

WAR.WIRE