TOKYO: Japan Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday announced his resignation as president of the Democratic Party of Japan, Japanese media reported, effectively ending his tenure as Japanese leader.

“I resign as the (party) president effective today,” Kan told senior party officials, Jiji press quoted him as saying.

The move will pave the way for the nation's sixth premier in five years as Japan looks to safeguard a recovery from the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and an ongoing nuclear crisis.

A leadership election for a new party president, who would then become prime minister, is expected Monday.

Kan was scheduled to hold a press conference later Friday.