The deputy prime minister has warned potential successors to Tony Blair against damaging Labour's general election campaign.

John Prescott was speaking after the prime minister announced he would stand down as the party leader following a full third term in office.

And Prescott said on Sunday that the race to succeed him should not begin until then.

The news of the decision has prompted a renewed bout of infighting between supporters of Blair and chancellor Gordon Brown, long seen as the heir apparent, in the press.

But Prescott warned all MPs against putting "personal ambition" ahead of the interests of the wider Labour movement.

"The full wrath of the party, I think will be visited on those who decide to threaten that and feed any speculation," he told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme.

"Let's face it, there will be a lot of talk of 'a senior source said' or 'friends of so and so said', but it means absolutely nothing provided no candidate or prospective candidate confirms it.

"I think every one of us has got to focus on the election, get on with that. If the party feel in any way that the personal ambitions of individuals threaten the possibility of our party winning the next election - because we do have to win it, don't take it for granted - then I think they will feel angry about that.

"So lets keep our eye on the main ball and that is to convince the electorate to elect another Labour government under the leadership of Tony Blair."

Brownites

In brief statement from Washington, where he is attending an international finance summit, Brown also called for "unity".

"The task of the Labour government is to show we have a strength and unity of purpose and not to be diverted from that," he said.

But on Saturday the Guardian quoted one "aide" of the chancellor as saying the timing of the surprise announcement - when Brown was abroad - as being "like an African coup".

"They waited until he was out of the country," said the aide.

But that prompted a warning from former Cabinet minister Jack Cunningham that members of the party should "just shut up" about the prime minister's position.

"Frankly, it would help if others who have an idea about their own interests in the succession would just shut up and help him to get on with governing the country," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

"It is in Gordon's interests for the party to be united, to be successful at the next general election and to go into a third term with a bold programme of new ideas and policies for the country.

"So to that extent, some of his friends aren't doing him any favours."

And an "ally" of the prime minister added in the Sunday Times that: "African coups only happen when the leader is out of the country. Brown is certainly no leader."