NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Monday the alliance would consider a request from Turkey to deploy Patriot anti-missile batteries along the border with Syria "as a matter of urgency."

Rasmussen said the alliance had received no formal request to date but added that if one was made by Ankara "we will consider that as a matter of urgency."

"The situation on the Syria-Turkey border is of great concern," said Rasmussen. "We have all the plans ready to defend and protect Turkey if needed. The plans will be adjusted if necessary to ensure effective protection of Turkey."

Rasmussen said there was no question currently of imposing a no-fly zone with the back-up of the Patriot missiles.

Only the US, the Netherlands and Germany have the Patriot missile system available.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported on Saturday that Turkey would formally ask NATO on Monday to set up missiles on its border with Syria.

The newspaper also said that up to 170 German troops could be deployed as part of the mission.

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said earlier Monday that Germany is expecting an official Turkish request to NATO for the deployment of Patriot anti-missile batteries along its border with Syria.

"I am expecting the request today," de Maiziere said as he went into a meeting of European defense ministers in Brussels, with the bloody conflict in Syria stoking tensions and exchanges of fire with northern neighbor and NATO member Turkey.

The defense minister said Berlin would examine the request in a spirit of openness and solidarity with Turkey which has seen border villages hit by artillery fire as forces loyal to Damascus battle rebels seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

The German defense ministry said Saturday that NATO first needed a mandate before Berlin could consider such a commitment, with a ministry spokesman noting that Turkey has yet to make a formal request.

Dutch Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said Monday his country has not received a formal request to send Patriot missiles to ally Turkey.

"We did not receive a formal request yet," Hennis-Plasschaert told reporters in Brussels. "We are waiting for a formal request."

NATO ambassadors would have to consider any request from Turkey and they have a regular weekly meeting on Wednesday but they could call a special one at any time. European Union defense and foreign ministers would be in Brussels on Monday for meetings.

Turkey has said it has intensified talks with NATO allies on how to shore up security on its 900-kilometer frontier with Syria after mortar rounds fired from Syria landed inside its territory.

AFP - Reuters