Bush and Cheney to appear before 9/11 commission

US President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney will appear before the commission investigating the September 11 terror attacks next week.

The timing of the joint, closed-door appearance was negotiated in recent days between the White House and the independent commission, said an official.

After initially resisting, the White House said last month that Bush and Cheney would appear together before the panel and April 29 date has been agreed.

The issue of whether the 2001 attacks might have been prevented has dragged on in an election year, raising questions about the administration’s actions in the months leading up to the attacks and potentially undercutting one of Bush’s political strengths, national security.