Britain?s Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in Bermuda on Thursday to be greeted by banner-waving protesters.

Six protesters lined the road from the airport with banners protesting Mr. Blair?s role in taking Britain to war in Iraq.

Organiser Lisa Kitson, a 26-year-old Biology student, said Mr. Blair had lied about the reasons for the invasion and should resign.

?He won?t do it. He thinks he can pull the wool over our eyes.?

She took comfort from the fact that Mr. Blair appeared to read the banners which said: ?Hands off Iraq. Oil war not our war? and ?Is the world safe now??

Protester Jonny Starling, 25, said the Iraq war was an imperial one which was costing billions of dollars while America was trying to cut social programmes to save money.

?It doesn?t make sense to me.?

Mr. Blair is joining wife Cherie who arrived with her mother Gale, sons Nicky, 18, Leo, four, and daughter Kathryn, 16 on Tuesday.

It is understood friends of Nicky and Kathryn are also in Bermuda but son Euan, a 20-year-old student, is not joining the family.

Mr. Blair was met at the airport by Governor Sir John Vereker who whisked him away in his official car. Looking relaxed in a check shirt and blue suit, Mr. Blair smiled as he passed the peaceful protestors.

Mr. Blair flew club class rather than first class on the British Airways flight from Gatwick.

Former Attorney General Saul Froomkin was in the same cabin. He said: ?He was as relaxed as I was. It seemed a pretty ordinary flight.?

Some passengers were unaware Mr. Blair had been on the flight as security was low key.

Passenger Carol Michael said: ?I know the flight was just as uncomfortable.?

It is thought to be Mr. Blair?s first visit and it is not known how long he will stay in Bermuda.

He is due in Washington next Friday to discuss the Middle East peace process with George W Bush.

Its understood Mr. Blair stayed on Thursday night at the Governor?s mansion but recent reports suggest the family then moved to a plush rental home in Tucker?s Town.

Mr. Blair?s wife has visited the Island before, once for a family holiday with the children and once to represent a local businessmen in a law suit against the Bank of Bermuda.

That 2002 visit attracted controversy in England amongst the tabloid press who claimed Mrs. Blair, who goes by the name Cherie Booth, had been feted like royalty by Bermuda?s Government.

Recently relations between Britain and Bermuda have soured due to a row over the appointment of Chief Justice Richard Ground.

Government House and 10 Downing Street have refused to comment on what the Blairs will be doing during their visit to Bermuda.

Mr. Blair is scheduled to meet with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York on Thursday and US President George W Bush in Washington on Friday.

The leaders are expected to discuss the worsening situation in Iraq and plans to reunify Cyprus.