Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 21 Mar 2018, 09:51 am Print
Myanmar: Myanmar's first democratically elected President Htin Kyaw, has stepped down, saying he is “taking a rest” following health issues, media reports said.
Kyaw is a close confidante of state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
Htin Kyaw was nominated as president by Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, in 2016 and she exerted much of her influence through him.
Suu Kyi, who is now under pressure from the international community to address the alleged state-sponsored violence against the Rohingiya community in Rakhine state, which the UN has described as "genocide".
The siutation has led to an exodus of 700,000 Rohingya Muslims over the border to Bangladesh.
However, the Myanmar Government has denied claims of ethnic cleansing.
Xinhua quoted director-general of the President's office, U Zaw Htay, as having said that the vacant presidency post is to be filled within seven days in accordance with the constitution.
Kyaw Image: Kremlin.ru/Wikipedia
- US official reacts to Elon Musk's remarks backing India's permanent UNSC seat
- Sri Lanka: 6.2 magnitude earthquake hits Island Nation, no casualty
- UN chief hails SE Asia for vital role ‘building bridges of understanding’
- India-Uzbekistan Synergy at the SCO
- Kazakhstan to host Astana International Forum in June to address key global challenges
