"The Iraqi diplomats must leave Turkey within a week," Anatolia news agency quoted him as saying.

The Turkish government confirmed on Saturday it was expelling the three diplomats, following a request from the United States.

Sahin said the Turkish foreign ministry had "serious evidence" that the diplomats were engaged in "activities incompatible with their status" -- a euphemism for spying.

The three envoys are the Iraqi embassy's first and second secretaries, Muhammed Hikmet and Sabah Al-Duri, and the deputy trade attache Ahmet Matlub.

The United States last month appealed to all countries to expel Iraqi diplomats, as it sent its military to invade Iraq.

Turkey's decision to expel the envoys, who are part of the Iraqi embassy's 20-person staff, was announced three days after US Secretary of State Colin Powell held talks with government ministers in Ankara.

SPACE.WIRE