Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou has approved the resignation of Liu Chao-shiuan, head of Taiwan's "Executive Yuan", Liu said at a press conference held Monday afternoon.

Liu said department leaders under the "Executive Yuan" were scheduled to resign Thursday.

Liu said that serving as the leader of the "Executive Yuan", he should take political responsibilities after more than 700 people were killed or missing after typhoon-triggered floods swept across the island last month.

After Liu's announcement of resignation, Ma Ying-jeou appointed Wu Den-yih, the ruling Kuomintang's secretary-general to replace Liu, according to the Taiwan leader's office.

Chu Li-lun, magistrate of Taoyuan County, will serve as the deputy head of the "Executive Yuan", said the office.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2009)