UPDATE 1-EU meets over Chad, no decision on peacekeepers

(Adds presidency statement)

BRUSSELS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - European Union ambassadors discussed the fighting in Chad's capital on Sunday but made no decision on plans to deploy an EU peacekeeping force there, EU president Slovenia and diplomats said.

Last month EU ministers agreed to send up to 3,700 troops from the 27-nation bloc to eastern Chad to protect civilians and aid workers caught up in the violence in the neighbouring Sudanese region of Darfur.

Army helicopters loyal to Chad's President Idriss Deby struck back on Sunday at rebels besieging the presidential palace in N'Djamena.

"The situation is being monitored carefully. The Political and Security Committee will review again what's happening there on Tuesday," an EU presidency spokeswoman said.

The committee took no decisions, an EU diplomat added.

"Nobody questioned the sending of the peacekeeping force," the EU diplomat said.

It would be up to Irish Major General Pat Nash, head of the peacekeeping force, to decide when it should be deployed on the ground, the EU presidency spokeswoman said.

The EU presidency later called in a statement for an immediate cessation of hostilities and said a political settlement was the only viable way to peace and stability.