US defence secretary Robert Gates said the US would not have an expanded policing role in quake-ravaged Haiti, but troops could defend themselves and civilians or foreigners if lawlessness boiled over.

TROOPS, doctors and aid workers flowed into Haiti yesterday but hundreds of thousands of quake victims still struggled to find water or food.

Troops, doctors and aid workers flowed into Haiti today but hundreds of thousands of quake victims still struggled to find water or food.

Thousands of US Marines were expected off the shore of Port-au-Prince today to help relief organisations get supplies to Haitian earthquake survivors.