One of the two main Iraqi Kurdish groups in northern Iraq, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, says it's launching a Kurdish-language satellite television channel which will be capable of reaching Kurdish-speaking areas of Turkey.

The KDP says the channel, known as KTV, will initially broadcast two hours a day of news and cultural programmes aimed at Kurds throughout Europe and the Middle East.

It's expected to begin live broadcasts within weeks.

A BBC correspondent says Turkey, which bans Kurdish-language broadcasting within its own borders, is unlikely to be enthusiastic about the project.