(CNN) Myanmar's President Htin Kyaw, one of the most loyal allies of the country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, has resigned due to ill health, the government said Wednesday.

Htin Kyaw, 71, was sworn in as Myanmar's official president in 2016 after Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won landmark elections.

During his two years in office he's essentially acted as a proxy for Suu Kyi, who is constitutionally barred from holding the presidency because her children are foreign nationals. A new position , State Counselor, was created to enable the long-time opposition politician to take a leading role in government.

Htin Kyaw's resignation comes as international pressure increases on Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi to do something to ease the suffering of the country's minority Rohingya population.

Almost 700,000 of the Muslim ethnic minority have crossed the Bangladesh border in the last six months, fleeing what the UN has described as a " textbook example of ethnic cleansing " by Myanmar troops.

The Myanmar military, which shares power with Suu Kyi, has denied the allegations, blaming the violence on members of the Rohingya militant group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ASRA ).

JUST WATCHED Three Nobel Peace Laureates accuse Myanmar of genocide Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Three Nobel Peace Laureates accuse Myanmar of genocide 04:08

Long-time friend

A close friend and confidante of Suu Kyi, Htin Kyaw served as an executive officer for the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, a charitable organization named after Suu Kyi's late mother. His father-in-law was also active in the establishment of the NLD.

He was one of a handful of people allowed to visit her while she was under house arrest, studied alongside her in England, and was close to her husband.

The economics graduate was elected in 1990 as a parliament executive of the NLD, and assumed the role of president after the party swept national elections, taking around 80% of the available seats, in November 2015.

Htin Kyaw was elected to the position of President by 360 votes, more than a third of the parliament's available 652 votes.</s>Image copyright EPA Image caption Aung San Suu Kyi was barred from the top job but acts as Myanmar's de facto president

The president of Myanmar Htin Kyaw has resigned, his office has announced.

No reason was given, but there have been growing concerns in recent months about the 71-year-old's health after he appeared frail at official functions.

Htin Kyaw was sworn in as president in 2016 after landmark elections which ended decades of military leadership.

But he was essentially a ceremonial leader, with long-time opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi acting as de facto president.

The statement posted on the presidency's Facebook page said Htin Kyaw wanted to "take a rest".

Vice-President Myint Swe, a former general, would act as president until a new president is chosen within seven days, it said.

Ms Suu Kyi, who was jailed for years under the military junta, was banned from taking the top job.

A clause in the constitution - widely seen as being deliberately designed to keep her from office - states that no-one with children of another nationality can be president.

She had two children with her late British husband.

Htin Kyaw was her childhood friend, long-time adviser and some time driver. He was widely seen as quiet and dependable, and someone she could trust entirely.

Dogged by Rakhine crisis

Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy had a landslide win in elections held in November 2015.

But the leadership has been dogged by issues since it took power, most prominently the Rohingya crisis in Rakhine state.

Nearly 700,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled violence in Myanmar since August, amid a military crackdown sparked by deadly attacks on police stations.

The government said it was targeting Rohingya militants behind the attacks, but the scale of the operation has led to accusations that it could amount to genocide.

It has also seen Ms Suu Kyi's global popularity plummet, and she has found herself increasingly isolated by her former international allies.

The next choice for the presidency

Jonathan Head, BBC South East Asia correspondent

When Aung San Suu Kyi's party swept the board in 2015, the biggest question hung over how she would address the constitutional barrier to her taking the top job of president.

She ruffled military feathers with her immediate promise to be "above the president" and to wield all effective power.

Her selection of Htin Kyaw as president, confirmed the expectation that it would become a largely ceremonial post despite being invested with extensive executive powers under the constitution.

Ms Suu Kyi then created for herself the position of state counsellor, with its own ministry, over the objections of the military, through which she has exercised de facto power. She has also taken the job of foreign minister.

However the crisis over the military's operation in Rakhine has exposed the flaws in this over-dependence on one woman.

Ms Suu Kyi has appeared overwhelmed by the need to respond to international criticism of the treatment of Rohingyas, while every other challenge confronting Myanmar, from a failing peace process to economic reform, also requires her involvement and approval.

The selection of Htin Kyaw's replacement gives her an opportunity to put a less compliant figure in the post, to whom she could delegate more responsibility.

Her long record of unquestioned dominance over her party, however, suggests she will probably choose yet another loyalist.</s>Myanmar President Htin Kyaw resigned from the post of President of Myanmar citing the reason that wanted to take rest from the current duties and responsibilities. The information was given through the president’s official Facebook page, new leader will be selected “within seven working days”, the post added. Kyaw, 71, who has been in office for two years, is the right-hand man of Myanmar Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. He was picked to be President after the country’s constitution barred…

Myanmar President Htin Kyaw resigned from the post of President of Myanmar citing the reason that wanted to take rest from the current duties and responsibilities. The information was given through the president’s official Facebook page, new leader will be selected “within seven working days”, the post added.

Kyaw, 71, who has been in office for two years, is the right-hand man of Myanmar Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. He was picked to be President after the country’s constitution barred Suu Kyi from holding the post.

“Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw resigned on March 21, 2018,” the statement read. “According to the Myanmar constitution article 73 (b), procedures will be undertaken to fill the president vacancy within seven working days.” Myint Swe, who was the military’s appointment for vice-president, will become acting president till a new leader is elected by parliament.

While the president’s office did not give any reason for this stepping down, Aung Shin, a spokesman for Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party, said Kyaw resigned due to ill-health. “The next president will be an NLD member or one who suits with NLD policy,” Aung Shin was quoted as saying by Reuters. “The current vice-president cannot be the next president, according to the constitution.”</s>Myanmar's President Htin Kyaw resigns 'to take rest from duties'

Myanmar's civilian President, Htin Kyaw, has resigned with immediate effect, "in order to take rest from the current duties and responsibilities", his office has announced in a statement posted on Facebook.

According to the country's constitution, the more senior of two vice-presidents will stand in as president until a new leader is elected by Parliament within seven working days.

This means Myint Swe, who was the military's appointment for Vice-President, will become acting president.

The president is the head of state and government in Myanmar, and under the constitution has far-reaching powers.

However, Htin Kyaw's role was more ceremonial because Aung San Suu Kyi has been Myanmar's de facto leader since April 2016.

A constitution drafted by the former junta bars Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ms Suu Kyi from the top office and so she hand-picked Htin Kyaw, a close ally of hers, to become president.

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

The President's office did not give a reason for Htin Kyaw's resignation.

"The next president will be an NLD member or one who suits with NLD policy," Mr Aung Shin said.

"The current vice-president cannot be the next president, according to the constitution."</s>The President of Myanmar Htin Kyaw resigned Wednesday, according to a press release from the President's Office.

The release added that Htin Kyaw wants to take a rest from his duties.</s>Myanmar President Htin Kyaw resigned on Wednesday “in order to take rest from the current duties and responsibilities”, a statement posted on the president’s official Facebook page read, reported Reuters. A new leader will be selected “within seven working days”, the post added. Kyaw, 71, who has been in office for two years, is the right-hand man of Myanmar Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. He was picked to be President after the country’s constitution barred Suu Kyi from holding the post.

“Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw resigned on March 21, 2018,” the statement read. “According to the Myanmar constitution article 73 (b), procedures will be undertaken to fill the president vacancy within seven working days.” Myint Swe, who was the military’s appointment for vice-president, will become acting president till a new leader is elected by parliament.

While the president’s office did not give any reason for this stepping down, Aung Shin, a spokesman for Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party, said Kyaw resigned due to ill-health. “The next president will be an NLD member or one who suits with NLD policy,” Aung Shin was quoted as saying by Reuters. “The current vice-president cannot be the next president, according to the constitution.”

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App</s>Yangon, March 21: Htin Kyaw resigned as President of Myanmar on Wednesday. Known as Aung San Suu Kyi's right-hand man Htin Kyaw stepped down after two years in the position, his office said.

A statement on the president's official Facebook has been put in this regard.

"Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw resigned on March 21, 2018," a statement on the president's official Facebook page said, adding that a new leader would be selected "within seven working days".

For breaking news & Instant updates throughout the day</s>Myanmar's president and Aung San Suu Kyi's right-hand man Htin Kyaw stepped down on Wednesday after two years in the position, his office said.

"Myanmar President Htin Kyaw resigned on March 21, 2018," a statement on the president's official Facebook page said, adding that a new leader would be selected "within seven working days".</s>Htin Kyaw, the figurehead president of Myanmar, resigned Wednesday, after suffering bouts of ill health that had prompted him to seek medical treatment outside of the country.

Mr. Htin Kyaw was a soft-spoken loyalist of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s state counselor and top civilian leader. He became president after the 2015 elections, the country’s first relatively free and fair vote in years.</s>The president of Myanmar Htin Kyaw has resigned, his office has announced.

No reason was given, but there have been growing concerns in recent months about the 71-year-old's health after he appeared frail at official functions.

Htin Kyaw became president in 2016 after landmark elections which saw the end of decades of military leadership.

But he was essentially a ceremonial leader, with long-time opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi acting as de facto president.

Ms Suu Kyi, who was jailed for years under the military junta, is banned from the top job.

A clause in the constitution - widely seen as being deliberately designed to keep her from office - states that no-one with children of another nationality can be president.

She had two children with her late British husband.

Htin Kyaw was her childhood friend, long-time advisor and some time driver. He was widely seen as quiet and dependable, and someone she could trust entirely.

But the leadership has been dogged by issues since it took power, most prominently the crisis in Rakhine state.

Tens of thousands of stateless Rohingya migrants have fled amid a military crackdown sparked by deadly attacks on police stations.
• Rakhine crisis: What you need know

The government said it was targeting militants, but the scale of the operation has led to accusations that it could amount to genocide.

It has also seen Ms Suu Kyi's global popularity plummet, and she has found herself increasingly isolated by her former international allies.

The statement from the president's office said a new president would be chosen with seven days.

It said Vice-President Myint Swe, a former general who was the military's appointee in the senior leadership, would act up until then.
Myanmar President Htin Kyaw resigns due to ill health. Vice-President Myint Swe, a former general, will become acting president until a new president is chosen.