Blair and Annan, who met at the Group of Eight (G8) summit being held in St Petersburg, said a rapid decision by the UN Security Council was needed to send peacekeepers to the Middle East.

With Israeli attacks on Lebanon entering a sixth day and Hezbollah rockets killing Israeli civilians, the British leader said the only way to end hostilities was to send a ''stabilization force'' to the area.

''It isn't going to stop now unless we can create conditions for a cessation,'' said Blair, adding that only putting troops in southern Lebanon would end Hezbollah's rocket attacks on northern Israel.

The Lebanese central government does not control parts of southern Lebanon which are run by Syrian-backed Hezbollah militia.

Annan said a team of UN officials in the crisis region would report to the Security Council by the end of the week. He urged countries to pledge ''well-trained and well-equipped'' forces for the planned Middle East peace operation.

''We need to give diplomacy time and space to work,'' said Annan who also appealed for all sides to spare civilian lives and infrastructure.

The G8 summit, which was in its third and final day Monday, has been overshadowed by grim events in the Middle East.