U.S. Troops Prepare to Help in Ivory Coast

Sept. 24 -- Officials are considering sending U.S. special operations forces into Ivory Coast to rescue dozens of American children trapped in their school after rebels seized the West African country's second largest city in the wake of a failed coup.

The American ambassador has called for military assistance, and officials told ABCNEWS the U.S. military has already established a presence in the country — a small military assessment team of fewer than a dozen personnel.

In nearby Ghana, the U.S. military's European Command is assembling about 100 special operations personnel that might be used in the operation.

Earlier today, U.S. Defense Department sources told ABCNEWS fewer than 200 American soldiers from the European Command were on their way to the region.

"We asked our European Command to move some troops into the area to be available to provide for the safety of American citizens should that prove necessary," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in his briefing.

"Their mandate is to be available as necessary to take action that can help ensure the safety of American citizens," he said.

France already has hundreds of troops in Ivory Coast, a former colony with which it still maintains close ties. U.S. military officials told ABCNEWS they hoped the French soldiers would be able to handle the evacuation operation.

If not, officials say the special forces troops will assemble an armed motorcade to escort the children and staff out of the school, the International Christian Academy, and then out of the besieged town of Bouake.

The evacuees will not be taken out of the country — only to different parts of the country, officials said. They said if the U.S. troops are needed, they could be moved quickly.

As rescue operations go, officials describe this as "modest." But the State Department today urged U.S. citizens in the Ivory Coast cities of Abidjan, Bouake and Korhogo to remain close to home, to observe government curfew restrictions and to remain in close communication with the American Embassy.