Citing two unnamed senior military officials, the newspaper said it was still unclear what other nations might join this force, and how it would be commanded.

The officials said they are considering sending from 500 to 2,000 US troops, the number to be determined after a decision is made about the force's precise mission, according to the report.

President George W. Bush has yet to decide whether to send US forces to Liberia.

But a senior military official and a senior administration official said it was all but certain that US troops would join a number of African nations in trying to restore stability in Liberia, The Times said, adding that Bush could decide as early as Thursday.

"A decision in principle to go has been made," the paper quoted one military official as saying. "There are some people pushing back on the record, saying there's been no final decision by the president, and that's true. But at this point, it's a decision about what it's going to look like."

A senior defense official said any American troops would probably stay only a few months to stabilize the country, according to the report.

The final decision -- and the shape of any peacekeeping force -- are likely to be influenced by a variety of factors, including whether Liberian President Charles Taylor heeds Bush's call to step down.

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