Two senior officials at the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency have turned in their resignations amid mounting turmoil since the recent appointment of a new director.

Deputy Director John McLaughlin announced his retirement from the spy agency Friday after 32 years of service.

The Washington Post newspaper quotes unidentified officials as saying he resigned after warning recently-appointed director Porter Goss that one of his top aides, chief of staff Patrick Murray, was "treating senior officials disrespectfully and risked widespread resignations."

Deputy Director of Operations Stephen Kappes also tendered his resignation Friday, reportedly after a confrontation with the same aide.

The article says after offering his resignation, Mr. Kappes agreed to delay his decision until Monday.

It also says several other senior CIA officers have threatened to quit.

The CIA has been sharply criticized for intelligence failures leading up to the 2001 September 11 terrorist attacks and the Iraq war.