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U.S. President George W. Bush meets with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the White House today for talks expected to focus on the situation in war-torn Liberia.

The meeting follows trips to Africa by both men, and comes as Liberia's government and the main rebel group accuse each other of violating a month-old cease-fire.

A government spokesman said Monday the rebels were advancing on the capital, Monrovia, after attacking Liberian forces at several locations outside the city in the past few days. But leaders of the rebel movement Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) said they have been pushing back government attacks on their positions in recent days. A LURD statement said the group is refraining from violence unless provoked.

Whether American troops will be sent to Liberia is among the topics Mr. Annan and Mr. Bush will discuss in Washington. The U.N. secretary-general and several European and African governments have called on the United States to lead an international peacekeeping force. President Bush has not said when he will decide.

U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that Washington will participate in trying to bring stability to the west African country, but that the U.S. role is still being determined.

Today's talks will be the first face-to-face meeting between Mr. Annan and Mr. Bush since the contentious U.N. debate on Iraq earlier this year. The U.N. role in rebuilding Iraq is also expected to be a major topic of discussion.

Some information for this report provided by AP, Reuters and AFP.