Three American warships are off the Liberian coast carrying a total of 2,300 marines.

United States marines today flew about 360 Indian nationals from the U.S.S. Saipan off the Liberian coast to Freetown, the capital of neighboring Sierra Leone.

Four American warships with 4,000 Marines have been off the Liberian coast for weeks, but Washington has repeatedly ruled out intervening.

Then, as now, Washington (at the time, Mr. Bush's father was in office) ordered American troops to park off the Liberian coast, and encouraged a West African peacekeeping force.

The marines sent to the embassy are part of a 2,100-strong Marine Amphibious Ready Group that has been stationed off the Liberian coast.

More than 2,200 marines are aboard three ships off the Liberian coast - including 150 forces equipped with attack planes and helicopters that are on standby to help the West African peacekeeping force.

More than 2,000 marines are on ships just off the Liberian coast.

The location away from the Liberian coast was chosen for health reasons, because of the high death rate due to mosquito-spread diseases among early settlers on the coast.

Western diplomats said the convoy is expected to reach the Liberian coast on Tuesday.

The remarks came as the first two of three Navy ships carrying 2,300 marines were set to arrive off the Liberian coast.