The United States is losing interest in the Middle East peace process, a new Whitehall document has warned.

The warning comes from the Department for International Development, in consultation with the Foreign Office.

"The role of the USA, the country with the most leverage over Israel, is key," it reads.

"Frustration with aspects of the Palestinian leadership, preoccupations in Iraq, presidential elections and security concerns for US citizens may risk USA disengagement at the highest levels from the peace process when it is most likely to start collapsing."

Signed off by international development secretary Hilary Benn, the document concludes: "There is now a medium to high probability that there will be a lack of effective international engagement on the Middle East peace process due to other international priorities in 2004."