``Overseas support will be jeopardized ... in the absence of political stability,'' Mark Ward, deputy administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development in Asia, told reporters Friday.

The United States has been a key supporter of the Norwegian-backed process.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy expressed hope that the elections will not hinder peace efforts.

U.S. AID recently approved a five-year US$120 million development strategy called ``Supporting Peace and Reform in Sri Lanka - .''

Ward said overseas support will also depend ``on the policies that Sri Lankan governments choose to pursue'' after the election.

Meanwhile, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees warned that the resettlement of tens of thousands of displaced people from the war, mostly ethnic Tamils, could be delayed because of the political instability.

``My concern is that the uncertainty coming with an election ... might have an adverse effect,'' UNHCR official Jean Marc-Boulgaris told reporters Friday.

About 350,000 internally displaced people have returned to their homes since a Norway-brokered cease-fire signed in February 2002, but another 380,000 people are waiting to be resettled, he said.

``Further development assistance may be delayed ... leading the international community to become more cautious,'' Marc-Boulgaris said. Published: Fri Feb 13 11:51:42 EST 2004

Having spent three days visiting UNHCR's operations in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Puttalam Districts, Chairman of UNHCR's Executive Committee said " From my meetings with IDP's NGOs, government officials and the LTTE it is clear that nobody wants a return to war in Sri Lanka" The UNHCR pointed out that the refugees were concerned about the security including the threat of landmines, fear for children's safety, and the recruitment of child soldiers and ongoing human rights violations. Published: Fri Feb 13 05:15:53 EST 2004