Religious leaders joined forces today to put pressure on Tony Blair to tackle the "injustice" of international debt.

Seventeen leaders of faith and other communities urged the Prime Minister Tony Blair to take more action on the issue.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, put his name to the plea to avert another "debt crisis" and "let the oppressed go free".

He was joined by Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Common-wealth; Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, General Secretary, The Muslim Council of Britain; Rev Joel Edwards, General Director, Evangelical Alliance; and Hanne Stinson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association.

The letter called for a "new vision" of the relationship between rich and poor nations.

Dr Sentamu was playing a key role in a mission which starts today at Oxford University.

The Archbishop was delivering a public lecture at Oxford Brookes University, and will lead prayers every morning at the Wesley Memorial Church and will deliver an evening address at the University Church of St Mary.