Myanmar President Resigns

Myanmar President Htin Kyaw resigned suddenly on Wednesday when country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi faces rising international opprobrium over the Rakhine crisis.

Myanmar President Htin Kyaw has resigned Source: Getty Images

"Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw resigned on March 21, 2018," a statement on the president's official Facebook page said. 

His office did not give many details for why he resigned Wednesday, only saying that "he wanted to take a rest from his current duties and responsibilities".

It added that a new leader will be selected in "within seven working days". 

Aung Shin, a spokesman for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party said,"Htin Kyaw, 71, had stepped down due to ill-health."

Htin Kyaw, the country’s first civilian president since 1962, was widely respected and seen as completely loyal to Suu Kyi's who said she would rule "above" him after he was elected in 2016.