US President George W. Bush has expressed a willingness to send a limited number of US troops to prop up a ceasefire in turbulent Liberia.
But Mr Bush said after meeting UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday that "any commitment we have would be limited in size and limited in tenure".
Mr Bush said he had not made a decision because US military experts sent to the region have not made a final report on the strength of a regional force, organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), that would serve as the backbone of a Liberian peacekeeping force.
Mr Bush said he told Mr Annan that "we [the United States] want to help" bring peace to Liberia and that for US troops to participate, Liberian President Charles Taylor must leave.
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Mr Annan declared himself "pleased" with the meetings, adding: "The effort that is going on is absolutely worthwhile".
He outlined a more detailed sequence for a Liberia operation, with ECOWAS sending in 1,000 to 1,500 troops. Mr Annan said Mr Taylor would then leave while at the same time he hoped US troops would arrive along with more soldiers from West African nations.
Eventually, the United Nations would send in peacekeeping troops to help stabilise the country, Mr Annan said.
"Once the situation is calm and stabilised the US would leave and the UN peacekeepers will carry on the operation," he told reporters, making it clear US troops would not be part of any UN "blue helmet" force.