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U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says peacekeeping troops from West African nations should lead the way in Liberia with the United States providing a support role.

Secretary Powell said any U.S. military role in Liberia will be, in his words, "very limited in duration and scope" to helping West African peacekeeping forces.

The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has offered to contribute one thousand troops to a peacekeeping force.

Mr. Powell told reporters in South Africa that President Bush has not yet decided on the level of of support or actual participation, but will do so soon. He said the president's decision will be based on reports by two U.S. military teams, one in Liberia and another one in Ghana.

The U.S. Secretary of State was in South Africa with the president, who is on a five-day tour of Africa.

Meanwhile, in New York, U.N. officials said U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan will go to Washington Monday to discuss the Liberian crisis with President Bush.

Mr. Annan has repeatedly called on the United States to consider intervening in the West African nation. As late as Wednesday, he said he hopes the United States will make what he called "the right decision" and send in troops.

Also Thursday, Liberian President Charles Taylor reiterated his offer to leave Liberia as soon as international peacekeepers arrive in the West African nation.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.