Powell asked that tanker trucks be allowed to cross from Turkey into northern Iraq to supply fuel for US forces fighting there alongside Kurdish militia, NTV reported after Powell met with Gul.

He also asked the Turkish side to allow wounded soldiers to be transported to Turkey -- reportedly to the Incirlik base in the south of the country that has a fully-equipped military hospital, partly built underground.

He also asked for unrestricted passage for humanitarian aid to northern Iraq.

There were no immediate official statements on the talks.

Powell also met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and was scheduled to have talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and army chief Hilmi Ozkok later in the day.

In remarks to reporters on his way to Ankara, Powell said he was coming with requests "having to do with just sustaining the operations in northern Iraq."

SPACE.WIRE