It was a relaxed Tony Blair who bid a fond farewell to Bermuda yesterday after his first week-long holiday on the Island.

The Prime Minister was in a jovial mood as he thanked the Island for a wonderful vacation ? but he diplomatically dodged tricky questions on Independence and the war in Iraq.

The Prime Minister was at Government House yesterday afternoon to meet the young Bermudian athletes who had done the Island proud at the Carifta Games.

In a statement issued later, he praised the Island for allowing himself, wife Cherie and their four children such privacy during their holiday and said he would love to return.

As the crisis in Iraq and the Middle East deepens, the Prime Minister faces a tough few days ? meeting United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York last night and US President George W. Bush in Washington today. But yesterday the Prime Minister was in good spirits as he prepared to say goodbye.

He told reporters: ?I just wanted to say a couple of things. I genuinely wanted to thank Bermuda for giving me a fantastic past few days.

?It has been absolutely wonderful and I have really, really enjoyed myself.

?The thing that has been the most wonderful has been the warmth of the people, whatever their background, whatever part of the Island, so on behalf of my family I?d like to thank you so much. It has certainly made me feel very warm towards Bermuda and it is great, and lovely for the family.

?What?s really (stood out) is how warm and friendly the people have been, and that makes a difference. When I was in St. George?s walking around, (I was) able to be relaxed.?

Mr. Blair managed to play 30 minutes of an 11-a-side football match, three games of tennis, tour St. George?s and Commissioner?s House, and have dinner with Michael Douglas, as well as spending time on the boat of Acting Assistant Justice Justin Williams. As he posed for pictures with the Carifta athletes, Mr. Blair joked that photographers and cameramen were all right at first but then they waited for the wrong angle before taking a shot.

On his one-hour meeting with Cabinet on Tuesday morning, Mr. Blair would only say ?various things? were discussed and it gave him the chance to renew his acquaintance with Premier Alex Scott. Mr. Scott quipped: ?It?s the first time Cabinet has had someone in charge.?

But when Mr. Blair was asked about the Independence discussions being held in Bermuda, he adroitly side-stepped that political controversy, replying: ?I?m going to keep out of that one at the moment if you don?t mind really.?

The microphone of ZBM reporter Gary Moreno, who asked the question then fell off, leading Mr. Blair to say: ?That?s good.?

He then turned to the Carifta athletes and joked: ?These are the tricks you pick up,? before adding, ?I?ll leave that (Independence) to another time.?

When asked about the fact no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq, he said: ?I?m going from here to a meeting with Kofi Annan and we?ll answer those there.

?This is a cultural occasion. Sorry to do that. One day I?ll get you over for a British Press conference and you can come after me like the others do.?asked what Mr. Blair thought about the small anti-war protests that greeted his arrival and departure here in Bermuda, which he deflected with bland answer: ?People in a democracy have the right to disagree and that?s the great thing about democracy.?

Turning to the performance of the Carifta athletes, Mr. Blair said: ?The wonderful athletes have done so much for the Island. Everyone in Bermuda is very, very proud.

?It?s always difficult to compete. I?m in a competitive business myself and I?ve had some good sporting moments.

?The legs are a little slow, but I?ve had a good game of football and some games of tennis on the way, but the most important thing about sport is it gives you the chance to stretch yourself and make yourself part of a team and always take all your talent and ability and take it to a new level.?

He described Bermuda as a ?remarkable place? which is difficult for people to appreciate when they live here all the time.

And he said even when people felt there were ?bad things? that needed to be fixed, they should not lose sight of how wonderful the Island was. He told the athletes they were the future of Bermuda. ?If you are the future, you are going to have a very good future.?

Judy Hinds, the president of Bermuda Track and Field Association, then presented Mr. Blair with a carved cedar cup as an appreciation of thanks.

Mr. Blair?s visit began as it ended with anti-war demonstrators protesting at his support for the war in Iraq.

Two protestors, Lisa Kitson and Jonny Starling stood outside Government House in the rain with placards which read: ?10,000 plus have died and you have lied. Iraq war not justified,? and ?War on poverty, AIDS, Illiteracy and Hunger.?