Port Louis: Mauritius President Kailash Purryag has resigned from office, an official statement said.

The statement said that Purryag sent his letter of resignation to the Speaker of the National Assembly of Mauritius on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

Purryag was appointed president in 2012 by the island's previous Labour party government of former premier Navin Ramgoolam.

In a statement broadcasted on a private radio channel in the island, Purryag said that he had agreed to step down as Head of State in January 2015 but did ask for some five months to implement the decision.

His move paves the way for the country to have first female Head of State, well known scientist and researcher Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. (IANS)