Turkish artillery and warplanes bombarded villages in northern Iraq on Wednesday, as Baghdad responded with an appeal for dialogue instead of force.

"We have received reports that the Turkish government and the Turkish army have bombed border villages. The Iraqi government regrets the Turkish military operations of artillery and warplanes bombing against border cities and towns," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told The Associated Press.

Al-Dabbagh said that the morning bombardment struck areas of the northern province of Dahuk, some 260 miles northwest of Baghdad.

"The Iraqi government calls for ceasing these operations and resorting to dialogue," he said, insisting that Iraq wants "good relations with Turkey."

VOI reports Turkish artillery fired more than 250 shells across the Iraqi border, setting ablaze large areas of natural forests but causing no casualties, according to a "security source."

"Turkish artillery began, today at 4:00 am, shelling areas on the border with Turkey in Zakho in northern Iraq," said the source, adding "more than 250 artillery shells fell onto areas of Nahili, Niroi and Rikani, 70 km north of Duhuk."

Sporadic shelling of northern Iraq by Turkish forces is not unusual, but VOI's source said Wednesday's attack struck deeper into Iraqi territory than previous shellings.

"It was the first time the Turkish artillery shelling was extended to include villages stretching from Zakho till Imadiyah district," the source said.

Earlier Wednesday, Kurdish guerrillas bombed a military vehicle near the Iraqi border, killing two soldiers and wounding six more, according to the state-run New Anatolian.