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