ANKARA, June 2 (Reuters) - Turkey's military said late on Friday that its troops had been verbally harassed by local armed forces in northern Iraq and warned that any repeat incident would be met with a tough response.

The army chief of general staff said in a statement that vehicles carrying Turkish troops in civilian dress were stopped by armed local forces, who verbally abused the soldiers.

"This harassment and pointing of guns ended when it became evident that it was caused by a misunderstanding," it said, adding that the soldiers had returned safely to their base.

The army warned that any further harassment of its troops in northern Iraq, where Turkey has retained a small military presence since the Saddam Hussein era, would not be tolerated.

"The slightest unethical behaviour or activity will be deemed as made towards the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces and will receive the utmost necessary response," the statement said.

Recent troop movements on Turkey's southeastern border have prompted speculation about a possible incursion into northern Iraq to crush Kurdish separatist guerrillas hiding there.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said last week he saw eye to eye with the army over possible military action, which would need to be authorised by parliament.

The United States, an ally of NATO member Turkey, has repeatedly urged Ankara not to send troops into Iraq, saying such a move would complicate the situation there. The two countries have agreed financial and other measures to try to curb rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

But pressure within Turkey for an incursion is growing after a suicide bombing in the capital last week killed six people and injured scores more. Authorities blamed the attack on the PKK, which denied involvement.

More than 30,000 people have died in the conflict with the PKK since the group launched its insurgency in 1984.

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