UPDATE 1-British PM Brown announces resignation

(updates with more comment)

LONDON May 11 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced on Tuesday that he was resigning as talks between the opposition Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties appeared to be nearing a deal on forming a new government.

His statement effectively brings down the curtain on 13 years of rule by the centre-left Labour Party.

"I have informed the queen's private secretary that it's my intention to tender my resignation to the queen," Brown told reporters outside his Downing Street office.

"In the event that the queen accepts I shall advise her to invite the leader of the opposition to seek to form a government. I wish the next prime minister well as he makes the important choices for the future."

The Conservatives, whose leader is David Cameron, won the most seats and votes in last Thursday's election, beating Brown's ruling Labour party into second with the Liberal Democrats a distant third.

Brown also said he would be stepping down immediately as Labour leader. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Keith Weir)