Washington: After waiting for weeks for Turkey's permission to base US troops in the country for an attack on Iraq, Bush administration has almost given up on persuading Ankara further, and is now moving American warships to the Red Sea through the Suez Canal.

The United States is now focusing on "discouraging and deterring" the Turkish government from sending troops across the Iraqi border to the Kurdish areas, a senior US official said.

The Pentagon has begun moving warships from the Eastern Mediterranean, where they had been "loitering" pending the Turkish decision. US ships capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles sailed toward the Suez Canal, apparently heading towards a zone where the missiles could be fired without passing through Turkish airspace.

Two destroyers and three nuclear submarines crossed the Suez Canal on March 14, and headed towards the Gulf, reports said.

The US, however, has sought permission to use Turkish airspace, which was granted during the 1991 Gulf War, he said, adding Turkey was to receive $ 6 billion in aid if it granted permission for ground troops.

If Ankara granted permission only for overflights, the economic aid package "is off the table", he said, noting the other US allies who have offered their airspace will not be receiving special economic assistance either.

Unlike Turkey, which has severe economic problems, the Arab countries where US troops and planes are based are oil-rich, he said.

PTI