Turkey’s head of state has protested a US congressional panel decision to approve a bill calling the First World War-era killings of Armenians a genocide, saying the decision came as a result of “petty domestic politics”.

Nato allies today agreed to dispatch hundreds of military engineers, medics and other troops to reinforce the earthquake relief effort in Pakistan.

Israeli Transportation Minister Meir Sheetrit today ordered four Israeli cruise ships carrying hundreds of tourists not to dock at the Turkish port of Alanya after receiving warnings of a possible terrorist attack, officials said.

The US military has begun using a sprawling air base in southern Turkey for a massive rotation of troops for Iraq, a US official said, a sign of improved relations between United States and Nato-ally Turkey strained over the war.

Turkey’s foreign minister said today that his country would allow the United States to use military bases in the country for a strike against Iraq, but only if the United Nations approved such military action.

British and American warplanes bombed Iraqi defence systems in the northern no-fly zone today after being fired upon during routine patrols, the US military said.

Anglo-American warplanes bombed Iraqi defence systems in Iraq’s northern no-fly zone today after being fired upon during routine patrols, the US military said.

Turkey today said it had agreed to allow US Air Force transport planes to use its airspace and airports for a possible response to the attack on the World Trade Centre.

The US government is not planning to cut the number of troops in Europe, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday.

US jets have struck Iraqi air defence systems in the northern no-fly zone.