The ongoing session of the People's Congress of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region endorsed Friday the resignations of the regional government chairman Qiangba Puncog and parliament leader Legqog.

Qiangba Puncog, a native of Qamdo Prefecture, was born in 1947. He took office as chairman of Tibet's regional government in May 2003.

A mechanics major from Chongqing University in the southwestern Chongqing Municipality, Qiangba Puncog is among the first Tibetans to receive college education.

Legqog, born in 1944, is a native of Gyangze County in southern Tibet. He took office as chairman of the Standing Committee of Tibet's Regional People's Congress in May 2003, after serving for five years as chairman of the regional government.

Their successors will be elected before the annual parliament session concludes later Friday morning.