Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (Sept. 2007 file photo)

Iraq's prime minister says his government wants to hold urgent talks with Turkish officials to consider non-military ways to stop Kurdish rebel attacks on southeastern Turkey.

Nouri al-Maliki called for such talks in a statement issued on Monday.

Also, Mr. Maliki is planning to hold an emergency meeting with top aides on Tuesday to discuss growing tensions with Turkey and the situation along the Iraqi-Turkish border.

Turkish students visit Edirnekapi National Cemetery in Istanbul, where troops killed in the fight against Kurdish rebels are buried, 11 Oct 2007

The Turkish government is asking parliament to approve a measure calling for a military operation against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq.

Government spokesman Cemil Cicek says the government still hopes military action will be unnecessary.

Cicek said the motion, if approved by Parliament, would be valid for one year, and would allow for multiple cross-border operations.

Parliament may vote on the measure Wednesday.

The U.S. government has also urged Turkey not to resort to military action. The U.S. fears a Turkish incursion will destabilize the relatively peaceful Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Turkish forces fired artillery shells into northern Iraq's Dahuk province late Saturday, but no casualties were reported.

But Turkey says it must consider an incursion because the U.S. and Iraqi militaries have not removed rebel safe havens in northern Iraq.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.