The US embassy in Liberia has been hit by the worsening financial crisis in the West African state, forcing it to temporarily withdraw Peace Corps volunteers from 12 of the country's 15 counties.
An embassy spokesperson in the capital, Monrovia, confirmed the pull-out decision, saying difficulties in "reliably obtaining needed funds from banks up-country and in Monrovia are affecting the ability of the Peace Corps to sustain volunteers".
The withdrawal is a blow to Liberia's education sector because the volunteers were assigned to government-run schools in remote areas to teach mainly science courses because of a shortage of teachers.
Liberia's economy has deteriorated under the government of former international football star George Weah, who became president in January last year following his victory in election.
The crisis has also resulted in lawmakers and civil servants complaining of delays in the payment of their salaries.
Liberia was founded in 1847 by freed African slaves from the US, and the Peace Corps has a long history of working in the country, which is trying to rebuild itself after a 14-year civil war that ended in 2003.