West Bank ? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday his efforts to reach a power-sharing agreement with the militant group Hamas have collapsed, raising concerns a deadlock will lead to more factional fighting after deadly weekend clashes.

But the Palestinian leader received a boost from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who promised the United States would do more to alleviate the plight of Palestinians.

“I told the president (Abbas) that we are very concerned, of course, about the humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territories,” she said. “I said to him that we would redouble our efforts to improve the conditions for the Palestinian people.”

Rice is in the region to try to bolster the moderate Abbas and revive peace efforts. She met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later Wednesday.