US debates response to Liberia

The Bush Administration, reluctant to get involved in another military fight, yesterday debated how to respond to international pressure to send peacekeepers to Liberia.

CNN reported that up to 1000 US troops could be sent.

"It's premature to say an announcement is forthcoming in the next day or so," Secretary of State Colin Powell said after consulting United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

President George W. Bush said: "We're exploring all options."

He called again for Liberian President Charles Taylor to step down.

Taylor told CBS Radio US troops would be welcomed inside the country, that he would be willing to leave Liberia in about three months and called for the UN war crimes charges against him to be dropped.