Turkey's dilemma over Iraq

Turkey has not ruled out the possibility of sending troops into Iraq.

In a HARDtalk interview broadcast on 11 November, Tim Sebastian talks to Ali Babacan, a cabinet minister in theTurkish government about his country's important strategic role and its relations with the United States.

Turkish Cabinet Minister Ali Babacan has refused to rule out Turkey sending troops to Iraq unilaterally.

The Turkish Prime Minister said on Friday that his country would not be sending troops, but in an interview with Tim Sebastian for HARDtalk, Minister Ali Babacan said the situation in Iraq was getting worse and "it is very difficult to be strict on these kind of issues".

Asked whether his country would send troops, he said that it was very difficult to be strict on this issue.

"What's important for us is the stability and security of the region as a whole".

He said his country was providing 2000 trucks and humanitarian aid.

"We are ready to help in every sense to stabilise the situation... What's important for us is the territorial integrity of Iraq. We are here to help".

HARDtalk can be seen on BBC World at 04:30 GMT, 11:30 GMT, 15:30 GMT, 19:30 GMT and 00:30 GMT

It can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 04:30 and 23:30