Opposition proposes buffer zone between Turkey, Iraq; gov't warm

"A buffer zone must be crateated in northern Iraq in order to prevent inflations into Turkey," Devlet Bahceli told in his party group meeting.

Turkey is face-to-face with an open terror threat managed by Iraq, he added.      Â

The government would evaluate the proposal, Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek told reporters.

The Turkish military had intensified its operations against PKK terrorists after 17 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military outpost. It launched several air operations and continuous artillery shelling was reported both within Turkey and northern Iraq.

Turkey's parliament is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to extend by one year the military’s authority to carry out operations in northern Iraq. The current mandate expires on Oct. 17.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by much of the international community including the United States and the EU.     Â