Canada's political combatants have forged a temporary truce in Ottawa's political trenches in honour of the nation's Second World War veterans.

In a rare show of unity, all three opposition party leaders agreed Tuesday to join Prime Minister Paul Martin in Holland next Monday.

There, they'll pay tribute to war veterans at VE-Day commemorations. The trip means Paul Martin will be safe -- at least temporarily -- from the Conservative threat to topple his government.

"It all came about just during question period briefing. The prime minister's been concerned about this. And of course, there's been a lot of publicity, critical publicity, saying what's wrong with politicians: 'Why can't they declare a cease fire and think about the veterans?'" The Globe and Mail's Jane Taber reported.

"So the prime minister decided that he would make the offer to the opposition leaders and this was all done by his chief of staff during question period yesterday. So by the end of question period, they had it all figured out," she said, appearing on CTV's Canada AM.

Election-wary Martin angered veterans last month when he cancelled a scheduled visit to the Netherlands for fears his minority government might lose a snap confidence vote in Parliament, which would trigger an election.

The Tories also chose to send Senator Michael Meighen instead of their originally planned delegation of two MPs, citing Martin's withdrawal as their reason to keep their MPs at home.

Veterans Affairs Minister Albina Guarnieri and Dutch-born NDP MP Peter Stoffer were recalled Monday, in case opposition parties tried to bring down Martin's government this week.

However on Tuesday, Martin and the other three leaders agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire -- just long enough to make a showing for the tail end of a week-long celebration marking Canada's role in ending the Nazi occupation.

"On the whole question of the commemoration of our veterans in Holland, I think we've got to put politics aside," Martin said outside the Commons on Wednesday.

"This is simply too important."

The leaders of the Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Quebecois all said they were prepared to accept Martin's offer.

"Of course, I'm happy to do that," Harper said. "All I'll say is that wasn't so hard after all."

Martin, the Conservatives' Stephen Harper, the Bloc Quebecois' Gilles Duceppe and the NDP's Jack Layton are expected to attend the opening ceremonies of Canada's new national war museum in Ottawa on Sunday.

The leaders will then fly to the Netherlands where they will attend Monday's gala dinner to toast the veterans -- one day after the main event marking Canada's involvement.

Harper said he was always prepared to attend the celebration, "if the Prime Minister was actually going."

Martin faced flak from his own party as well. Liberal MP David Anderson told The Globe that Martin failed to show leadership.

"I think it was an opportunity for him (Martin) to tell (Harper), 'I'm going to Holland, if the government falls, so be it. I'm inviting you to come with me so make your choice,'" Anderson told The Globe.

Martin has been forced to cut other trips abroad because of the political climate at home. Government sources told The Globe that he had hoped to visit Middle East this spring.

With files from The Canadian Press