A second senior official of the US Central Intelligence Agency is expected to announce his retirement.
It comes less than a day after the surprise resignation of George Tenet, the agency's Director.
James Pavitt is the CIA's Deputy Director of Operations.
A spokesman for the CIA said Mr Pavitt's decision was unrelated to the departure of Mr Tenet.
Mr Pavitt had decided to leave the agency before Mr Tenet made his surprise announcement yesterday.
