Libyan parliamentary speaker says factions have agreed on early elections

TRIPOLI, Libya – The spokesman for Libya's interim parliament says the country's key factions have agreed to hold early elections, following a wave of protests against the legislature's decision to extend its mandate.

Omar Humeidan said that the decision was made in a Sunday session of parliament by "consensus." He said a law governing the new elections should be presented by next month.

Parliament's term expired on Feb. 7, but lawmakers led by Islamist factions voted to extend it without holding new elections. Since then, crowds have been protesting to demand parliament be dissolved.

The country marks Monday the anniversary of the start of the 2011 revolt that brought down longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.