The highly anticipated US progress report on Iraq could be presented to Congress on 11 September.
US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and the top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, could testify to Congress about progress in the war 11 or 12 September, depending on the congressional schedules.
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe, speaking on Air Force One headed with President George W Bush to a summit in Canada, said the hearing date was not related to the anniversary of the 2001 attacks.
The terrorist assault was often cited by Bush administration officials as a reason to invade Iraq.
The September progress report is seen in Washington as a pivotal milestone in assessing whether the Pentagon's so-called surge strategy has worked.
That strategy has aimed to establish enough security to allow Iraqi politicians to move toward reconciliation.
IRAQI GOVERNOR KILLED
Meanwhile, the governor of the southern Iraqi province of Muthanna has been killed in a roadside bomb attack.
Mohammed Ali al-Hassani is the second Shia governor to be killed within a fortnight.
Security officials said Mr Hassani's nine car convoy came under attack in the al-Rumaitha neighbourhood in the north of the city as he was travelling to work at around 8am local time (5am Irish time).
One of his guards was killed in the attack and another two were wounded.
Police imposed a vehicle curfew in the city after the attack.
