British Prime Minister Tony Blair hoped on Thursday that there would be a UN resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon "in the next few days".

Speaking at his monthly press conference, Blair said the UN Security Council resolution would pave the way for the deployment of an international force to help the Lebanese government control the southern area bordering Israel.

It was "vital" to have a genuine ceasefire on both sides, as well as addressing issues raised by Lebanon and Israel's requirement for security on its northern border, he said.

He believed the outstanding differences over the UN resolution could be quickly resolved. "This is obviously a critical time. I think it is coming together. I think the remaining differences are very slight," he said.

Blair returned from a five-day visit to the United States on Wednesday to find his Cabinet and Labor Party in disarray over his response to the Middle East crisis.

He hit back at claims of a wider Cabinet rift over his refusal to criticize Israel's military action and back calls for an immediate ceasefire.

"You don't bring it to an end unless you have got a plan to do so," he said. "If the ceasefire is not on both sides, Israel will continue to take action. That's the reality."

He also dismissed reports he and his Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett were at odds over the policy as "complete rubbish".

Ann Clwyd, chairmen of the Parliamentary Labor Party, said that the "vast majority" of backbench members of Parliament wanted a ceasefire and former minister Joan Ruddock said that there was " despair" in the party at Blair's stance.

Source: Xinhua