Baghdad  - Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa on Tuesday said he sees a "prosperous future" for Iraq.

"I feel that there is a big difference in the country since my last visit and the policy of reconciliation has led to increasingly stability," Mussa said.

He was speaking at a press conference in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, held jointly with Iraqi Prime Minsiter Nuri al-Maliki.

"Hope has emerged for a prosperous future," Mussa added.

Mussa, in meetings with al-Maliki and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Tuesday, discussed the role that the Arab League could play in improving Iraq's security and in promoting the country's efforts toward national reconciliation.

The Arab League chief said it was vital that Iraqis settle their differences because the country was a "cornerstone of the Arab world." Mussa said he looked forward to Iraq resuming an important role in Arab affairs.

In a separate news conference, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Iraq would seek to host the next Arab League summit after the Doha summit at the end of March.

The summit venue rotates according to Arabic alphabetical order. (dpa)