US Special envoy to the Middle East to resign after two years in office

US Special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, is resigning after two years in office, US officials said Friday.

"The president will have a paper statement with regard to that later today," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

President Barack Obama tapped Mitchell as Middle East envoy in his new administration in 2009, hoping the seasoned diplomat could bring his renowned negotiating skills to the Arab-Israeli conflict.