Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf resigns

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has resigned as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), saying he has ordered a contest be held to select a replacement.

"I've concluded that repairing our relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm," Yousaf said at a press conference in Edinburgh on Monday.

"I have therefore informed the SNP's national secretary of my intention to stand down as party leader and ask that she commences a leadership contest for my replacement as soon as possible."

He said he would continue as first minister until a successor has been elected.

Yousaf was facing a vote of no confidence after he ended an alliance with the Greens following a dispute over a decision to scrap a climate change emissions reduction target.