Istanbul (AFP) - Turkey on Thursday rejected accusations that its armed forces used chemical weapons against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq as "unfounded" and "baseless".

Media outlets close to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Turkey classifies as terrorists, published video clips this week showing the Turkish army's use of chemical weapons against the armed group in northern Iraq.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying that "allegations of the use of chemical weapons by the Turkish Armed Forces are baseless and completely unfounded." Accusing some of seeking to spread misleading information to cover up the achievements of the Turkish army.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin criticized the allegations, describing them as a "lie" and part of a "defamation campaign" targeting the army, police and intelligence agencies that are clamping down on Kurdish fighters.

"The chemical weapons lie is a failed attempt by those who seek to whitewash and beautify terrorism," Kalin wrote on Twitter.

The Turkish Public Prosecution office opened an investigation into the claim of Sepnem Koror Funangi, head of the Turkish Medical Association, that chemical weapons were used, and concluded that after checking the video clips.

"It is clear that a toxic chemical gas that directly affects the nervous system has been used," Fanangi claimed.

"Although its use is prohibited, we see that it is used in clashes," she noted.

According to Turkish media reports, Finangi is accused of "propaganda for a terrorist organization" and "insulting the Turkish nation and the Turkish state."

The International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, a nonpartisan federation of medical groups in more than 60 countries, sent a mission to northern Iraq in late September.

"Some indirect evidence of possible violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention was found," the association said in its report.

According to the report, "the materials found near an area abandoned by the Turkish army included containers for hydrochloric acid and bleach that can be used to produce chlorine, a conventional agent used in chemical weapons."

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been continuing its insurrection for Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey since 1984.

The Turkish army launched successive operations against the armed group's rear bases in northern Iraq, and these operations constituted a constant factor of tension in Ankara's relationship with the Baghdad government.