Despite his pleas, the frenzy over the leadership grew as Blair declined to name his departure date or echo an earlier endorsement of finance minister Gordon Brown as his successor. ?What I want to do this week is say to the party: ?We have had a difficult time recently. Go back, focus on the public, the public?s concerns and things that really worry people?,? Blair told the BBC as Labour began its annual conference.

The rally in the northern city of Manchester is crucial for Blair and heir apparent Brown, whose uneasy and at times hostile relationship has dominated British politics for nearly a decade. Labour is trailing a resurgent opposition Conservative Party in opinion polls and the party fears infighting will further dent its popularity. The next general election is expected in 2009 although Labour could suffer in local elections in May.

Backing US-led war

Blair, who on Tuesday addresses the conference as leader for the last time, has angered many Labour members with his backing for the US-led war on Iraq, his policies in the Middle East and his pro-market reforms of public services.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Manchester on Saturday to protest against his policies. Blair was forced last month to pledge he would step down within a year to stem a party revolt. Some in Labour want him to go sooner.

The conference is equally critical for Brown, once seen as an automatic choice to succeed Blair but who could now face a fight for the top job. Potential challengers will be canvassing for support at the conference, which ends on Thursday.

Brown, a Scot who lacks Blair?s charisma, must prove to doubters in Labour that he has the personality and vision to win wavering voters when he speaks to the conference on Monday.

Blair, who has led the Labour Party to three election victories since 1997, has faced speculation about when he will go ever since he said he would not seek a fourth term. In the past he has said Brown would make a ?brilliant prime minister?. He declined to repeat that endorsement on Sunday but said: ?I don?t resile from anything I?ve said before.? He said he was focusing on the public?s concerns on immigration, terrorism and law and order.

Brown set out his stall as leader on Sunday, saying in a BBC interview he favored more devolution of power in the public services, following a model he adopted when he handed control of interest rates to the Bank of England. He said he would welcome a challenge for the leadership.

An opinion poll in the Sunday Times found nearly two-thirds of people wanted Blair to set a timetable for his departure in his speech to the conference on Tuesday, while 69 percent thought he should go by next spring.

In a poll for ITV?s ?Sunday Edition? program, more than half of British voters said they wanted whoever replaces Blair to call a general election within six months of taking over.

Adrian CROFT