"The US European Command is assembling a survey team to depart for Monrovia today," from Germany, said EUCOM spokesman Lieutenant Commander Rick Haupt, from US headquarters in Stuttgart.

"It is being sent to help determine what the requirements of humanitarian assistance might be there," he said.

"The team will include subject matter experts able to advise... about requirements for a potential humanitarian assistance mission," Haupt said, adding that more than 15 personnel would be involved.

He stressed that there has been "no decision on what additional US force, if any, will deploy to Liberia."

Last month Liberian President Charles Taylor's government and two rebel groups signed a ceasefire deal in Accra in talks mediated by the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The ceasefire has since been broken several times and pressure is growing on Washington to lead a peacekeeping mission to the war-torn country, which was founded in the 19th century by freed American slaves.

ECOWAS on Friday approved the setting up of a 3,000-strong force there and called on the United States, South Africa and Morocco to provide extra troops to bring it up to 5,000.

US President George W. Bush has refused to say whether US troops would be sent.

WAR.WIRE