Doha - Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi, in his closing remarks to the Arab League summit in Qatar on Monday, said Arab countries could not recognize Israel until it gave up its nuclear weapons and agreed to allow Palestinian refugees to return to their homes.

"We cannot recognize Israel while they have nuclear weapons and we have modest weapons," Gaddafi said. "And we should insist on the return of the displaced. We cannot recognize Israel until they agree to these two demands."

Gaddafi further called on the Arab League to elect a new secretary-general, and said the leader should not always be selected from one country. Five of the seven secretaries-general in the Arab League's history, including current Secretary-General Amr Mussa, have been Egyptian.

"The times call for unity," Gaddafi said, holding up the African Union as an example.

"In future, we will have a United States of Africa, with one African army and one African currency ... much like the United States of America," Gaddafi said. (dpa)