Since the Turkish parliament last month rejected the United States' request to use its territory for setting up a northern front in the war against Iraq and only granted the overflight rights for US warplanes and missiles, several congressmen said Turkey's decision hampered the military operations in Iraq.

"It would be very hard for me to support loans and grants for Turkey after they've hurt our battle plans," said Jack Kingston, a Republican congressman.

Others who opposed the amendment argued that punitive measures against Turkey would be unfavorable, and aid to Turkey would keep the country as a NATO ally and a stable and moderate Islamic country.

The debate came just as US Secretary of State Colin Powell left Washington for a trip to Turkey seeking to smooth ties with the country.

Powell was now in Ankara for talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul about the ongoing Iraq war.

(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2003)