The Iraqi government on Saturday hailed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's resignation and considered it a "positive step" that responded to the will of the Egyptian people.

In a statement by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's office obtained by Xinhua, the government said "the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak is a positive step in the right direction because it comes as a response to the will of the Egyptian people to carry out the change."

"The Iraqi government is confident that the brotherly Egypt and its great people will bring about a leadership that would meet their ambitions in security, stability and to keep Egypt's decent status in the world," the statement said.

It also said that the Iraqi government is keen to have the best relation with Egypt and its foreseen government.

Egyptian President Mubarak stepped down Friday and handed power to the military after 18 days of protests against his three-decade rule.