TEHRAN,Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Htin Kyaw, whose post is largely ceremonial, has been a close ally of the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
He was handpicked by the Nobel peace prize laureate to become president because a constitution drafted by the country's former junta bars her from the top office.
There has been speculation in the local media for some months that Htin Kyaw was in ill-health, but this was denied by officials.
The president's office said in a statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday:
"According to the Myanmar constitution article 73 (b), procedures will be undertaken to fill the president vacancy within seven working days."
Source: AAP