US Middle East envoy to resign

WASHINGTON:  Special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, is resigning after two years in office, US officials said Friday, in a move likely to further complicate the stalemated Arab-Israeli peace process.

"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.

But two years on Israel and the Palestinians are no closer to achieving a long coveted peace accord, which the United States hopes to see result in two nations living side by side.