Arbil, Iraq Press, March 24 - Iraqi troops are digging trenches along the borders of the semi-independent Kurdish enclave in the north, travellers arriving here said.

They said the digging is the largest ever in the area as it involves several kilometers-long of earth embankments. They said thousands of troops and hundreds of earth moving machines is taking part.

The move is apparently part of President Saddam Hussein's measures to confront a possible U.S. military action to topple his regime.

Speculation is mounting that Washington may soon turn to Iraq in its war against international terrorism. President Bush has vowed to deal with Saddam and has not ruled out the use of military force.

Saddam fears that Washington may mobilise Iraqi Kurdish rebels and other dissidents against his rule they way it did with the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan.

The Kurds control much of Iraqi Kurdistan away from Saddam's authority but have not made it clear whether they will join a U.S. military bid to overthrow the regime.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan jointly administer the enclave. Both factions have their militia forces of about 15,000 fighters.