ANKARA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkey expects Iraq to take decisive action for immediate and resolute measures in fighting against terrorism, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday.

    Turkish diplomatic sources were quoted as saying that talks with Iraqi government and the U.S. administration are still underway, however, it is impossible to estimate what will be the result of the process.

    "We saw a certain willingness on the U.S. authorities but Iraqi officials don't manifest the same willingness," said the sources. Turkey has handed a diplomatic note to Baghdad on April 9, and officially asked the Iraqi government to ensure border security, arrest members of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and extradite them to Turkey.

    It also requested Baghdad government to fulfills its obligations under the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. But the diplomatic sources criticized that no concrete steps have been taken by Iraq regarding to the note, said the report. Turkey has launched an anti-terrorism operation in the southeastern province of Sirnak, in which some 20,000 soldiers, village guards and members of the Special Forces are involved, local media reported.

    Ten military helicopters are aiding the operation, said to be centered near the Cudi and Gabar mountains, said the report. Nearby military command centers are constantly transferring troops to the region with clashes reported in the Bestler Dereler region, it added.

    So far, some 37, 000 people died in fighting since the PKK took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984.

    Last month, the head of Turkey's armed forces said several large-scale offensives against the group were launched in the southeast of the country, and requested permission to launch an operation into northern Iraq to attack the PKK's bases there.