TONY BLAIR insisted that he had “complete inner confidence” in his Middle East strategy last night as Israel agreed to a suspension of its bombing raids over southern Lebanon.

The 48-hour cessation of aerial attacks came hours after an air strike on the Lebanese village of Qana that killed about 60, including 37 children, and prompted widespread criticism and a day of intense diplomatic activity. Mr Blair had asked world leaders to support a United Nations resolution to rescue his US-backed plan for a more durable ceasefire.

The announcement of the 48-hour suspension was made by Adam Ereli, the US State Department spokesman, who added that Israel will also coordinate with the UN to allow a 24-hour period of safe passage for residents of south Lebanon who want to leave the region.

The blast at Qana triggered rioting in Beirut and led Kofi Annan to call an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York. The Pope also insisted that the violence had to stop immediately.

After a day of talks in Jerusalem, Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, is due to return to Washington today having been told by the Lebanese Government that she was no longer welcome in the country. Dr Rice said that she would concentrate on drafting the UN resolution, but she leaves behind a still delicate situation.

Earlier yesterday Israel had said that it needed two more weeks to attack Hezbollah while Fouad Siniora, Lebanon’s Prime Minister, praised the extremist group, thanking its members for their sacrifices.

The British Government was hoping that last night’s announcement will give its diplomatic efforts a better chance of succeeding. Mr Blair has been criticised heavily at home and abroad for failing to condemn Israel and for refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire. If his plans for an immediate UN resolution fail, that criticism will intensify.

Jack Straw, the Leader of the Commons, strayed from the Cabinet line yesterday by calling the Israeli actions disproportionate. Private dissent within the Cabinet is understood to be mounting but, in a speech last night to media executives in San Francisco, Mr Blair said he was certain that his approach was correct.

“I have many opponents on the subject, but complete inner confidence in the analysis of the struggle we face,” he said.

Responding earlier to the attack on Qana, Mr Blair said: “This is an absolutely tragic situation and we are going to make sure the discussions we are having do lead to a cessation of hostilities. What has happened in Qana shows this cannot be allowed to continue any longer.

“I have been in a series of urgent talks and negotiations with other leaders. I think what we have is a basis for an agreement that will allow us to get agreement on a UN resolution, but we have to get that now.

“We have to speed the entire process up and get a resolution and, on the passing of the agreement on that resolution, the hostilities have to stop.”

Mr Blair’s spokesman attempted to deflect criticism that the Prime Minister was in California meeting local dignitaries and visiting community projects at a time of international crisis by insisting that he was very much in touch with events. There was speculation last night that the crisis might tempt Mr Blair to rearrange plans to go on holiday after his US trip and leave John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, in charge.

Mr Blair spoke several times to President Bush over the weekend and to President Chirac of France. Mr Blair and Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, issued a joint statement that “underlined the urgency of the need for a ceasefire as soon as possible”.

Mr Blair’s spokesman said that the Prime Minister was in the driving seat in terms of the UN resolution on the situation.

The strike on Qana made yesterday the bloodiest of the 19-day conflict and was denounced as a massacre by Amr Moussa, the Arab League Secretary-General. Witnesses said a missile hit a three-storey house where families were sheltering in the basement.

Hundreds of Lebanese protesters stormed the UN building in Beirut, chanting pro-Hezbollah slogans and condemning the US and Britain for their support of Israel. Israel said that Hezbollah had been using the village to mount rocket attacks and had warned residents to leave the area.

MIDDLE EAST LATEST

The UN Security Council convened for an emergency meeting in New York. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General, called for an immediate ceasefire

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