Iraq's Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari, has said his government is ready to enter into talks with neighbouring Turkey on how to deal with Kurdish separatists.
He was speaking after Iraq formally protested to Turkey about recent shelling into mainly Kurdish areas in northern Iraq.
Turkey has deployed tanks and thousands of troops to its border, and says it has the right to take action against Kurdish guerrillas in Iraq.
Mr Zebari said Iraq was ready to talk, but only if Turkey stopped its military action.
