US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell has said he hoped to meet Palestinian leaders soon as part of a harder US push for peace in the region following the death of President Yasser Arafat.
Mr Powell will travel to Egypt for a conference later this month and could meet there with the current and former Palestinian prime ministers, Ahmed Qurie and Mahmoud Abbas, respectively, or visit them in the Palestinian territories, a State Department official said.
Sending his top diplomat to meet Arafat's moderate successors would add substance to US President George W Bush's pledge to use the prestige of the United States to help create a Palestinian state during his second four-year term.
Mr Powell, who is also expected to host Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on Monday in Washington, said the United States wanted the Jewish state to allow Palestinians in the occupied territories to move freely to vote for Arafat's successor.
Mr Qurie said a presidential vote would be held by January 9th, within the 60 days set by law. Little-known parliamentary Speaker Rawhi Fattouh is acting president.
The Bush administration refused to deal with Arafat, saying he was an obstacle to peace but has vowed to seize what it sees as an opportunity to reinvigorate peace efforts with a new leadership.
Israel also says Arafat's death could be a turning point but will resume talks only if a new leader proves more willing and capable of reining in militants.
Arafat, who was buried on Friday, left no clear successor and his powers have been shared among several veterans, stirring fears of a possible leadership struggle in Palestinian territories brimming with gunmen and a plethora of security forces.