The BBC's Chris Morris in Ankara: The crisis shows no sign of abating

Mr Ocalan is wanted in Turkey on charges of murder and terrorism, but Italy has refused to extradite him because he could face the death penalty if convicted.

Abdullah Ocalan: Wanted man but unwanted problem

The thick Turkish file includes photographs, videos and details of crimes allegedly committed by the PKK leader and his supporters, according to diplomat Haldun Otman.

It also contains details of a draft bill to lift the death penalty in Turkey - a move to defuse Italian objections to Mr Ocalan's extradition.

The diplomatic trip follows Germany's decision not to request Mr Ocalan's extradition even though he is wanted there for charges of incitement to murder.

The Turkish Government had appeared to soften its extradition demands last week, saying it might accept him being tried in a third country, such as Germany.

William Horsley: Who has the will to bring Ocalan to court?

But Bonn made clear on Friday it has no intention of extraditing Mr Ocalan, fearing unrest among Germany's many Turkish Kurds.

Instead, Germany and Italy hope to arrange for a trial in an international court, an idea opposed by Turkey which has threatened a trade embargo if the PKK leader is not handed over.

Dini says no asylum

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said the decision not to seek Mr Ocalan's extradition was "one of the most difficult that exists'', but was taken in the interests of law and peace.

Mr Schröder: A most difficult decision

Germany is home to more than two million Turks and 400,000 Kurds.

Turkey holds Mr Ocalan responsible for the deaths of 30,000 people during a 14-year conflict for Kurdish self-rule.

Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini has said Mr Ocalan, arrested in Rome this month, should not be granted political asylum.

However, the final decision rests with an Italian interior ministry commission and is expected to take several months.

Peace offerings

BBC Rome Correspondent Orla Guerin says Italy is anxiously looking for a way out of the Ocalan affair, which now threatens to escalate to a trade war with Turkey.

In an attempt to prevent the dispute breaking down relations completely, Turkish Sports Minister Yucel Seckiner has invited his Italian counterpart, Giovanna Melandri, to attend a football match between a Turkish and an Italian team in Istanbul next week.