Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq says he will not seek a third term in office when his mandate ends in 2014.
Mr Maliki was confirmed for a second term in December after nine months of negotiations over a new government following an inconclusive parliamentary election in March.
He said on Saturday that he would back the insertion of a clause in the constitution bringing in a two-term maximum.
Currently the prime minister can run for re-election an unlimited number of times, while the president can serve only two terms.
The constitution does not prevent a third, fourth or fifth term, but I have personally decided not to seek another term after this one, said Mr Maliki.
I support the insertion of a paragraph in the constitution that the prime minister gets only two turns, only eight years, and I think that's enough.
'Change is necessary'
Referring to the current unrest in Egypt and other countries, he said:
The people have the right to express what they want without being persecuted.
One of the characteristics of a lack of democracy is when a leader rules for 30 or 40 years. It is a difficult issue for people, it is intolerable and change is necessary.
