WASHINGTON - Steve Jobs, the chief executive of Apple Inc, received a liver transplant about two months ago but is expected to return to work later this month, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Jobs, a pancreatic cancer survivor, stepped away from managing day-to-day operations for the consumer electronics giant about six months ago, citing unspecified health issues.

He may return to work part-time at first, the newspaper said, quoting an unnamed source. The source said Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook may continue to manage daily operations of the company when Jobs first returns.

Neither Jobs nor a company spokeswoman confirmed the report, the newspaper said.

Some Apple directors knew about the surgery, which occurred in Tennessee, and were briefed weekly by Job's doctor, the report said.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Alex Richardson)

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