Turkey is considering sending troops into northern Iraq after at least 17 of its soldiers were killed in an attack by Kurdish rebels.

The men were ambushed close to the border of the two countries by guerillas fighting for an independent state.

Turkish leaders responded angrily, ordering artillery units to launch rocket attacks against Kurdish rebel positions along the border.

They also confirmed they were considering a cross-border offensive despite opposition from the United States, Iraq and the European Union.

Turkey's military, civilian and intelligence leaders held consecutive meetings, just four days after Parliament authorised the government to deploy troops across the border, to decide whether to push into mountainous northern Iraq and try to inflict a blow on the increasingly aggressive Kurdish rebels.

Turkish military confirmed that tactical units were chasing the rebels and pounding 63 suspected positions.

Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said the troops, backed by helicopter gunships, killed 32 rebels so far in ongoing action that also left 16 soldiers wounded.

The rebel group, Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK, claimed later that its guerrillas had also captured a "number" of Turkish soldiers.

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