Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz

"If they bring missiles to Cyprus, we will install some too," Yilmaz said.

"Our position is clear. If the Greek Cypriots want to deploy these missiles, let them go ahead.

"We will have to take counter-measures for the protection of the Turkish Cypriots. If the Greek Cypriots deploy them in the south, we will reinforce our capabilities," he said.

It is the first time Ankara has threatened a missile deployment of its own on the divided island.

The BBC Ankara correspondent Chris Morris reports on a possible arms race between Turkey and Greece.

Turkey says the Greek-Cypriot missiles, which are due to be delivered later this year, pose an unacceptable threat. They have a range of 90 miles (145 km), which, Turkey says, would threaten its own airspace as well as northern Cyprus's.

Mr Yilmaz, however, did not repeat previous Turkish threats of a military strike to prevent their deployment.

His remarks came as the top commander of the Turkish armed forces, General Ismail Hakki Karadayi visited Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus to discuss the security situation on the island, which was divided after Turkey invaded the north in July 1974.

The planned deployment of the missiles, combined with the European Union's invitation for Cyprus to become a member, have greatly increased tension between the Greek and the Turkish communities. The Turkish Cypriots have broken off all negotiations.

Meanwhile, the president of Cyprus, Glafcos Clerides, is due to meet the Russian president, Boris Yeltsin, in Moscow on Monday.

Compromise solution rejected

Earlier this week the United States offered to consider establishing a "no-fly" zone over Cyprus, which could reduce the tension between the Greek and Turkish sides. Athens and the Cyprus Government welcomed the proposal, but Turkey said it would not bargain over the missiles.