CANBERRA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Australian Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday refused to quit the Liberal leadership ensuring a historic split within the party and demanding senators follow through with voting for a deal on emissions trading.

    His action sets the scene for a leadership spill within days against senior Liberal frontbencher Tony Abbott.

    The Liberal leader was under siege amid mass resignations from his frontbench in response to what senior Liberals described as grassroots party revolt.

    However, he has refused to stand down despite the resignation of up to a third of his own frontbench.

    "We must maintain this course of action. It is the responsible thing to do. It is the honorable thing to do," he said.

    Turnbull said he believed the ETS negotiated by Labor and the coalition would still pass the Senate.

    "I'm confident it will pass," he told reporters.

    "There's been no change to the decision of the party."