Topics for the conference address issues relevant to women and are led by national, regional and local experts.

The meeting is one in a series of consultations by regional experts from the two countries.

Cityscape global is a platform for regional and international experts to discuss a range of pressing industry topics.

Some regional experts state the common name "Taliban" may be more misleading than illuminating.

Kirkuk, a city in northern Iraq with rich oil fields around it, may turn into one of those flash points, regional experts fear.

Some regional experts urge that the inspections be maintained.

Any attempt by outsiders to take over, many regional experts say, could touch off a backlash.

Resistance might even extend to sabotage or terrorism, other regional experts said.

Such a hard-nosed approach to foreigners, regional experts say, reflects Iraq's difficult history developing its oil industry.

One regional expert in the administration said it was Yemen's history to play off rivals.