Turkish and U.S. officials failed to agree on conditions for deploying tens of thousands of American troops here during overnight talks, likely delaying a parliamentary vote authorizing the move, diplomats said Tuesday. Turkey's Cabinet on Monday approved hosting the U.S. troops for a possible Iraq war, but the prime minister's office has yet to send the bill demanding authorization of the deployment to parliament.

Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said the bill would be sent to lawmakers later Tuesday, CNN-Turk reported.

A Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity that outstanding issues remained in the political, economic and military aspects of the deployment. Parliament was unlikely to vote on the deployment before an agreement is sealed, Turkish officials said.

Turkish and U.S. officials have been in intense negotiations for weeks on the conditions of the deployment.

Major sticking points have included a multibillion dollar economic aid package to compensate for any losses incurred in a war, the command structure in northern Iraq where Turkey plans to deploy its own troops and the makeup of a post-war Iraq.

Marisa Lino, a top State Department official for military affairs, held talks with Turkish officials until 7 a.m. local time Tuesday, while U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Robert Pearson, left the foreign ministry at 2 a.m.

Turkish press reports said that Turkey would let in 61,000 American troops, but there were conflicting reports on whether the initial authorization would be for three or six months. Diplomats said they could not confirm the figure or give details of the ongoing talks.

Washington has been pressing Turkey to approve the deployment. U.S. ships are waiting off the coast of Turkey to unload supplies for the 4th Infantry Division, which would lead an armored thrust from Turkey into northern Iraq if there is a war.

Although the Turkish Cabinet approved the deployment, the government may have difficulty in convincing the deputies of the ruling Justice and Development Party to back the motion.

Justice has a large majority in parliament, but many deputies have repeatedly spoken out against any war in Iraq.

Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised Monday's Cabinet decision, saying it was in "the best interest of the nation."

Although Erdogan, who is seen as the power behind the scenes in Turkey, said he would not order his party's legislators how to vote, he hinted that he believed the legislators would be persuaded to vote in favor.

"I believe you will make the final decision and take your steps without the need for a group decision," Erdogan said in an address to party deputies.

But Gul had trouble convincing his own Cabinet members Monday. Government spokesman Abdullatif Sener said that many ministers had reservations, but "in the end, the ministers unanimously endorsed to send it to parliament."

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir said there would be benefits if the authorization was not approved.

"If it is not approved democracy would be strengthened," Yalcinbayir said without elaborating.

The bill would also authorize Turkish troops to enter northern Iraq in case of war.

Tens of thousands of Turkish troops are expected to cross into northern Iraq in a war, a plan that is raising tensions with Iraqi Kurds who control an autonomous zone in the north of the country.

Turkey fears that Iraq could fragment if there is a war, with Kurds declaring an independent state. That, Turks fears, could encourage Turkey's Kurdish minority.

PHOTO CAPTION

A group of U.S. soldiers walks past military equipment in the port city of Iskenderun, Turkey, Tuesday Feb. 25, 2003, as ships with American military equipment wait off the coast for the green light to be unloaded. Turkish and U.S. officials failed to agree on conditions for deploying tens of thousands of American troops here during overnight talks, likely delaying a parliamentary vote authorizing the move, diplomats said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)