A 18 strong contingent of Iraqi MPs have arrived in Northern Ireland seeking lessons on how to carve out a settlement in their troubled country.

A series of meetings has been scheduled, including appointments with the First and Deputy First Minister in order to learn how Northern Ireland is dealing with its cultural divisions.

The domestic situation in Iraq shares many similarities to the Northern Irish at the height of the troubles, with culturally divided communities with their own embattled rivals.

The delegation met with the police ombudsman, Policing Board members, and the Equality Commission. Other high profile meetings were with the Garvaghy Road residents and the Orange Order.

A visit to Belfast's Islamic Centre is also scheduled, complete with a tour of North Belfast.

The visit has been organised by the Institute of Governance at Queen's University and Stratagem, on behalf of the United Nations Office for Project Services.

The MPs, who are members of the Iraqi Parliament's Constitutional Review Committee, were guests of assembly speaker William Hay at a dinner in Parliament Buildings on Tuesday night and have also had talks with junior minister Jeffrey Donaldson.

A spokesman from Strategem said: "While we hope Northern Ireland's troubled times are behind us, the conflict in Iraq is still ongoing.

"This should intensify our commitment in Northern Ireland to offer what information and advice we can about what we have learned.

"The Iraqi delegation is hungry to learn and everyone they meet is eager to share. Together we can make progress."

(DW/JM)