The British government has said it would support a bid to defer debt payments of countries affected by the tsunami disaster in Asia.
British treasury officials said Britain would use its presidency of the G8 group of industrialised nations to help provide long-term debt assistance.
The British Chancellor, Mr Gordon Brown, said he would attempt to persuade the US to agree to a debt moratorium for countries such as Indonesia and Somalia.
The plans were revealed amid criticism of the British government's handling of the relief effort with opposition MPs suggesting the public was quicker to react.
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy questioned the Mr Blair's refusal to cut short his holiday and said the Government was playing "catch-up" with public opinion.