BAGHDAD — Iraqi President Barham Salih announced Oct. 31 his support for protesters’ demands and pledged to organize early elections and to dismiss the electoral commission and form a new one.

Salih stressed that Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi agreed to resign within the “constitutional contexts.” The president said, “There is an urgent need for reforms in Iraq ... and a comprehensive national dialogue is in the works,” pointing out that the existing system has become unsustainable and that fixing it is one of main demands of the protests, which started in early October.

Salih's speech followed a series of meetings he hosted in the government palace Oct. 31 with the heads of parliamentary blocs in addition to Abdul Mahdi and parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi. The resolution Salih came up did not meet protester demands for the dismissal of the government.

Abdul Mahdi has offered to resign if a replacement is found for him. This means parliament would have to vote to dismiss the prime minister according to Article 64 of the Constitution, which further states that early elections are to be organized within 60 days following the dissolution.