a bid to defuse controversy over his right to sit in the House of Assembly.

He said: "Several weeks ago I surrendered my US passport to the office of the United States Consulate in Bermuda.

"In addition, I have performed the oath of renunciation required from those who renounce their citizenship from the United States of America.'' But Warwick West MP Dr. Brown insisted he had been legally in the right in holding a seat in the House and a US passport.

He said his legal advisers, including lawyer Ian Kawaley, had told him he was safe under the Bermuda Constitution.

Dr. Brown said: "The disqualification of a person under an oath of allegiance to a foreign power...only applies to persons under an oath of office in a foreign country, not to persons who merely possess dual citizenship.'' He added: "The Bahamian Constitution, which is very similar to our own, expressly disqualifies persons possessing dual citizenship from membership in Parliament as well as disqualifying persons under an oath of allegiance to a foreign power.'' Dr. Brown said he had acted -- despite the legal opinions sought -- to end confusion and to deprive Government of General Election ammunition.

And he denied he had made his move because his dual status was unpopular with voters.

Dr. Brown insisted polls had shown he was "in good shape'' to keep his seat.

He added: "I fully expect the PLP to form the next Government. The people of Bermuda and Warwick West deserve to have a Government and a representative who can concentrate on the people's business undistracted by irrelevant side shows created by mischief makers determined to undermine the democratic process and to deny yet another son of the soil his rightful place in the Bermuda sun.'' And he claimed: "The confusion over my status, which was always a convenient topic for the political cowards, who hid behind a flawed and unfair Constitution, is no longer available for my opponents to use to question my eligibility to sit in Parliament.'' And he insisted the Constitution should be amended to remove problems for dual citizenship Bermudians in the future.

Brown renounces citizenship He was backed by Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith, who, echoing former leader, the late Frederick Wade, called for a Constitutional conference to address Dr.

Brown's problems and other matters, including electoral districts -- but repeated the party was convinced Dr. Brown had been in the legal right.

Dr. Brown -- Bermudian-born but a long-time US resident, swore allegiance to the US flag in 1990.

A row over his eligibility to sit in the House erupted shortly after he was first elected in 1993.

The Constitution bars anyone holding "allegiance, obedience, or adherence'' to a foreign power or state.

Ex-Warwick West MP Sir John Sharpe -- ousted by Dr. Brown by only a handful of votes -- sought a legal opinion in 1998 from top constitutional lawyer Michael Beloff QC, from London, in 1997.

Mr. Beloff found that Dr. Brown could face up to two years in prison and fine of $1,000 for taking his seat and that the chance of him being found guilty was "reasonable.'' But Mr. Beloff said stressed the "key question'' was one of fact -- whether Dr. Brown knew he was dusqualified through the relevant Constitutional clause.

And he said, if Dr. Brown won at the next General Election, Dr. Brown's eligibility could be challenged, but only within 28 days of the result being announced.

Dr. Brown has admitted he knew of the Constitutional bar -- but said he had had sought a legal opinion in 1995 and been advised his US passport was not a problem.

Later attempts by the PLP to have the controversial clause dropped from the Constitution failed.

Opposition MPs argued that Australian US and Canadian-born citizens could serve in Parliament if they had Bermuda status.

At various times, PLP MPs threatened to have the matter resolved elsewhere -- from Supreme Court to the UK Parliament and the Privy Council.

But Government insisted there was a world of difference between a person born overseas -- but who have chosen to take an oath of loyalty to the Crown -- and a Bermudian-born adult who volunteers "by virtue of his own act'' to swear allegiance to a foreign flag.

United Bermuda Party MP Michael Dunkley -- who gave up his dual US nationality at the age of 21 -- said: "I have to give him credit. He's done the right thing.'' But he claimed: "The PLP positions are strangely in contrast -- by renouncing, he has admitted he was wrong.'' And he added: "One has to reflect on the positions the PLP have had to say all along.

"They're keen to say they're the Government in waiting -- but they're certainly not showing much in the way of honesty. The electorate needs to focus on the the way they do things.'' But for one Bermudian, there was no doubt Dr. Brown was in the right of things.

His 10-year-old son Trey, who joined other family members and PLP MPs for the announcement yesterday, said: "I just want to say my daddy's a Bermudian, that's what counts.''