VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Saturday he is stepping down after being placed under investigation on suspicion of corruption offences.

       Kurz said in a statement to the media that he was proposing Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, a career diplomat, as his successor. Kurz plans to remain leader of his conservative party and take over as its leader in parliament, he added.

       (Reporting by Francois Murphy, Editing by William Maclean)