Iraq's US governor, Mr Paul Bremer, arrived in Washington for crisis talks and is expected to meet with top officials at the White House for what is likely to be a decision-making session, a US official said in Washington.
"When decisions need to be made, Bremer comes. Some decisions need to be made," the official said.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was no expectation Mr Bremer would be leaving his post.
There was no immediate comment from the White House. Mr Bremer's return for what officials called "consultations" comes amid growing frustration in Washington with theUS-appointed Iraqi Governing Council and what some officials say is increasing friction with Mr Bremer himself.
Mr Bremer had left Iraq at short notice and cancelled a meeting today with visiting Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller, the Polish delegation said.
In September, Mr Bremer outlined a seven-step plan for Iraqi sovereignty. "It's beginning to be realized that it's not going to follow that path," said an administration official involved in Iraq policy in Washington.
"And we need some kind of provisional government that we can give some kind of authority to. The whole political piece is a work in progress. He's got a lot of work to do."
Mr Bremer's mission will be to "consult, consult, consult," particularly on Iraq's political structure, the official said.
One issue under discussion is the sequence of restoring sovereignty to Iraq. The Bush administration appears to be backing away from its earlier insistence that a constitution must be written and ratified by nationwide referendum before Iraqis gain significant sovereignty.