As tensions on Iraq's northern border escalate in a continuing standoff between turkey and Kurdish forces, the Iraqi defense minister has told Parliament that Iraq cannot send its troops to the northern borders without the orders of the Multinational Coalition.

Defense Minister Abd al-Qadir al-Ubaidi told Parliament in a closed session today that the MNF is "responsible for security in Iraq" Aswat al-Iraq writes in Arabic, citing an MP who was present at the session.

Al-Ubaidi also called for the Kurdish Peshmerga militias to come under the command of the Iraqi armed forces, in order to defend Iraq's borders.

The escalating crisis on the northern borders dominanted the closed session of Parliament today, Aswat al-Iraq writes, citing Sami al-Askari, an MP with the governing United Iraqi Alliance, who said that the defense minister, Foreign Minister Hoshyar al-Zebari, and Minister of State for Security Affairs Shirwan al-Wa'ili gave presentations to the National Assembly.

Zebari told the parliament that consultations between the Turkish government, the Iraqis and American officials were continuing in an effort to defuse the crisis. Turkey has threatened intervention across the Iraqi borders if PKK fighters are not handed over to it.

150 MPs were present out of 275, Aswat al-Iraq writes, citing a parliamentary media source.

Zebari also said that "Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will be in Baghdad on Tuesday to hold talks with senior Iraqi officials regarding the current situation," Aswat al-Iraq writes, quoting MP al-Askari.

A cross-border PKK raid yesterday killed at least 17 Turkish soldiers, according to media reports, and PKK sources said today that Turkish losses were "more than claimed" by the Turkish government, Aswat al-Iraq writes. The PKK also claimed that it had captured eight Turkish soldiers in the operation.