BAGHDAD (Compiled From Dispatches)- Iraq's interim government spoke out bluntly Wednesday against the deployment of Turkish troops here, highlighting a growing rift between the country's budding leadership and the U.S.-led coalition.

Iraqis worried the dispatch of soldiers from neighboring Turkey would pose another obstacle in the country's drive for sovereignty six months after U.S. forces toppled Saddam Hussein.

"Sending these troops would delay our regaining sovereignty," said council member Nasseer Chaderchi. "The Governing Council will issue a statement today about the Turkish troops. I am against sending Turkish troops or from any other neighboring countries because we do not want relations with our neighbors to be damaged."

The spectre of Turkish troops on Iraqi soil drew attention to the Governing Council's weak position in relation to the Americans who have pushed for the idea, ignoring the historic tensions between Iraq and Turkey.

The Turks, in the past, have nurtured aspirations to northern Iraq, while the Kurds have long viewed Turkey as a threat to their nationalist aspirations.

"The council is unanimous in issuing a communique against the sending of Turkish forces to Iraq. It is the wrong thing to do. It does not add to security. It is not useful," council member Mahmud Othman, himself a Kurd, told AFP Tuesday. "This is our (the council's) position and it is unanimous."

He said the communique would be issued by the council, but might be delayed by the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority.

Contacted by AFP, the council's spokesman Muhannad Abdul Jabar said there was no communique so far.

Speaking at a London press conference, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, also a Kurd, said that Iraq's "Governing Council does not want any of Iraq's immediate neighbors to take part in peacekeeping missions".

Even, council member Ahmad Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress (INC) party, a longtime favorite of the Pentagon, has spoken cooly of the plan.

"Strategically, any foreign troops should be invited by an Iraqi sovereign government. In the short term, it should be decided by the Iraqi Governing Council," said Entifadh Qanbar, a spokesman for Chalabi.

But the council, which was assembled by the Americans and is subject to a veto by the U.S. boss in Iraq, Paul Bremer, has no real power to block the arrival of Turkish troops.

Turkey will hold initial talks on Thursday with NATO ally the United States on plans to send troops to Iraq to help U.S.-led forces secure the peace there, Turkish officials said on Wednesday.

And Washington is concerned talks will drag on as Turkey tries to win concessions, which could include demands for a swift U.S. crackdown on Turkish Kurd militants in northern Iraq.

"What will be talked about, when the discussions will start, where, who will head the talks will be clear when we officially inform the American side (of parliament's decision) tomorrow (Thursday)," a Foreign Ministry official told reporters.

Washington is working to persuade more countries to commit troops and funds to Iraq.

The United States has said it is confident it can persuade the Council to accept the Turks.

Turkish Foreign Ministry undersecretary Ugur Ziyal is due to meet with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman on Thursday.

"Turkey has no hidden agenda (in Iraq). It is out in the open for everybody to see," Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Dirioz told reporters at an Ankara news conference.