One of the diplomats, first secretary Sabah Al-Duri, left early Tuesday while the remaining two, second secretary Muhammed Hikmet and deputy trade attache Ahmet Matlub, were set to leave later in the day, she said.

All of the diplomats were travelling by car by way of Syria, the spokeswoman added.

The Turkish government announced at the weekend that it was expelling the diplomats for "activities incompatible with their status" -- a euphemism for spying.

The United States last month appealed to all countries to throw out Iraqi envoys before it launched its invasion of Iraq.

Turkey's decision to expel the diplomats, from among Iraq's 20-person-strong embassy, was announced three days after US Secretary of State Colin Powell held talks with government ministers in Ankara.

SPACE.WIRE