Despite frustration at the pace of progress, President George W. Bush directed Iraq's US civil administrator Mr Paul Bremer today to keep working with a US-appointed group of Iraqis and push them to speed up the transfer of political authority.
At the end of two days of urgent consultations with Mr Bush and his top national security advisers, Mr Bremer said he would return to Baghdad for talks with members of the Iraqi Governing Council.
With a recent surge in attacks on US-led forces occupying Iraq, Mr Bremer said he would tell the council Mr Bush's thoughts and ask how they wanted to proceed. A December 15th, UN Security Council deadline is looming that requires the council to offer a plan for writing an Iraqi constitution and holding elections.
"There's a lot going on and we need to pull this all together and integrate it into a plan going forward. And that's what I'll be talking to the governing council about," Mr Bremer told reporters after meeting Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and participating in a National Security Council meeting.
"I will now go back and reflect the president's and his advisers' views on the path forward," he said, declining to elaborate.
There is growing frustration among US officials with the council and what some officials say is increasing friction with Mr Bremer himself.
Mr Bremer's abrupt return to Washington had triggered speculation his job was on the line or the council might be disbanded, which Mr Bremer dashed by saying he would continue talks with council.
With the recent surge in attacks on US soldiers, local people cooperating with them and international groups, Washington is seeking ways to reduce the US presence and defuse hostility by shifting control faster to Iraqis.