"The United States government is providing 1 million dollars tosupport the work of these American and other international observers in addition to 2.5 million dollars in technical assistance to the Palestinians for their presidential elections," Ereli said at a news briefing.

The United States will send an official delegation to observe the Palestinian elections and the delegation will be led by Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire and Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware, both of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The delegation will also include four congressional staff members, prominent Palestinian-Americans and US consul general in Jerusalem, David Pearce.

"This is all part of a strong interest on our part in the elections and a readiness to work with the victors in that election towards engagement with the Israelis and the achievement of the president's vision of two states," Ereli said.

US President George W. Bush has stressed that the Palestinian leadership achieves democracy to realize his vision of two states,an Israeli and a Palestinian, living side by side in peace and security.