"In playing a role in the democratisation process and political postwar reconstruction, the United Nations must consider the territorial integrity of Iraq and the fact that all the country's resources belong to the Iraqi people," Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said.

He was speaking at Ankara's airport late Wednesday on his return from Belgrade where he attended a summit of Balkan nations, the Anatolia news agency reported.

He noted the fears of Turkey concerning Kurdish separatists, and called on the United Nations to ensure that Iraq does not become a base for "terrorism."

Erdogan echoed remarks earlier Wednesday by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who said the United Nations must play a "leading role" in the reconstruction of Iraq, where the regime of President Saddam Hussein appeared to have collapsed amid scenes of jubilation in Baghdad.

Sezer also expressed fears that a prolonged conflict could bring the Christian West and the Muslim east to loggerheads.

"Turkey wants the war in Iraq to be ended as soon as possible without more loss of life and the emergence of a chaotic environment that would adversely affect regional peace, stability and security," Sezer said.

"It is our hope that the war does not turn into a conflict between civilizations and religions, that it does not encourage anti-US and anti-Western movements in the Islamic world and strengthen the hands of terrorist organizations," he added.

Sezer also expressed concern that the US-led invasion of Iraq could weaken the international coalition against terrorism forged after the September 11 attacks of 2001.

The UN role in postwar Iraq has become a hot issue in recent days.

At a summit meeting in Northern Ireland this week, US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the United Nations would play a vital role in post-war Iraq, offering reassurances that Washington will not act unilaterally.

SPACE.WIRE