Officials in northern Iraq say Turkish military aircraft have dropped bombs in the region, a week after Ankara conducted a major offensive against Kurdish PKK rebels in the area.

Turkey's top military commander says Ankara's decision to withdraw its troops from northern Iraq was not due to any pressure from the United States.

The Turkish military says all its troops have withdrawn from northern Iraq after a week-long assault on Kurdish rebels. Ankara accuses the rebels of using Iraq as a base to launch attacks against Turkish forces. But in the last few days international pressure, especially from the United States, has been increasing on Turkey to end the operation. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.

President Bush is calling for Turkey to end its military operation against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq as soon as possible. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports Mr. Bush talked about the Turkish offensive during a nationally broadcast White House news conference.

Turkey has come under renewed pressure to end its incursion into northern Iraq against a Kurdish rebel group. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visited Ankara and reiterated Washington's call to end the operation, which Turkey says has killed more than 230 rebels in the past week. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates will hold talks with Turkish leaders on Thursday to press for withdrawal of troops from Iraq despite the Turks refusal to withdraw its troops.

The Iraqi government has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops, saying the five-day incursion is threatening their otherwise friendly relations.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he will tell Turkish leaders that they must conclude their military operation in northern Iraq within the next two weeks.

The Iraqi government has demanded the immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops, saying the five-day incursion is threatening their otherwise friendly relations. Daniel Schearf reports from the northern Iraqi city of Irbil.

Turkish fighter jets and artillery continue to pound northern Iraq Monday as Turkish troops battle Kurdish rebels in the mountainous border region.

Turkish military officials say five soldiers and at least 44 Kurdish rebels have been killed since a Turkish ground offensive into northern Iraq began late Thursday. Ankara accuses Kurdish Workers Party separatists of using bases in Iraq to launch attacks against government troops in Turkey. Dorian Jones has details from Istanbul.

Turkish warplanes have again bombed alleged Kurdish guerrilla positions in northern Iraq.