Manama — A two-day meeting of the Gulf Co-operation Council attended by the area's top government ministers kicked off Monday in Bahrain.

Bolstering military co-operation and environmental and nuclear power strategies are expected to be discussed during the high-level talks at Sakhir Palace, Minister of State for Information Affairs Sameera Rajab was quoted as saying.

The meeting will also focus on accelerating steps for economic unity, the creation of a GCC customs union and common market, the occupation of three United Arab Emirates islands by Iran and the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme.

The Syrian conflict is also placed high on the agenda.