Saturday, March 12 2005 10:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Britain's Parliament approved the tough anti-terror bill following a 31-hour debate in the House of Lords only after Prime Minister Tony Blair assured the peers to review the legislation next year.

The Prevention of Terrorism Bill, which prompted the third longest sitting of the House of Lords, later received the Royal Assent.

The end to the stalemate came after the Opposition Conservatives accepted Blair's promise that MPs would be able to review the bill within a year. However, Blair denied it was the Tory-proposed "sunset clause in all but name".

The passing of the bill comes as the last eight foreign terror suspects detained in British jails without charge or trial were granted bail.

It is also just three days before the current Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 expires on March 14.

During the long political "ping-pong", peers in the House of Lords had refused to give up amendments that would put a 12-month time limit on the bill and place a higher standard of proof on suspects.

Instead the bill bounced between the two houses four times as the two sides failed to reach agreement. The standoff even threatened to stretch into the weekend.

Blair told newsmen after the passage of the bill that his plan to break the deadlock was "our best attempt to get this legislation on the statute book". He warned the Tories there would be no more concessions on the bill.

If they had genuine concerns about the legislation, "this way through meets it," Blair said.