The European Union would not rule out the possiblity to send troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help the UN to head off the worsened conflict between rebels and government forces, EU officials said yesterday.

"We're talking about the work of the 17,000 UN peacekeepers there at the moment and the role of the European Union in supporting that politically, diplomatically, and no-one's ruling out a military role," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told reporters upon his arrival for an informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers.

But Miliband noted that no decision would be made until after the United Nations Security Council made a decision, saying "It will be for the United Nations including EU countries in the UN to listen to that report."

UN Secretary General Ban-Ki moon's deputy responsible for peacekeeping to the DRC has gone to DRC to inspect report on the conflict that has forced millions to flee their homes.