Political leaders reacted with shock yesterday to Premier David Saul's surprise announcement that he was resigning as Premier -- and leaving politics.

While the streets of Hamilton buzzed with speculation about possible successors, current and former politicians puzzled over why Dr. Saul had stepped down and paused to assess his contribution.

Former Premier Sir David Gibbons said Dr. Saul had inherited a party torn apart during the Independence referendum.

"He was faced with a divided party and he has worked hard to mend the rift,'' he said. "Let's hope that every one of them gets together and finds an individual they can all support unanimously and go on from there.'' Analyst Walton Brown was less complimentary, saying Dr. Saul failed to leave his stamp on the United Bermuda Party.

"He never appeared as a very strong leader,'' he said. "And he was never able to capture the minds and souls of the United Bermuda Party membership.'' Former UBP Devonshire South MP Colin Benbow said Dr. Saul's decision was a simple piece of political strategy.

"He is getting out of the way to let someone that is more popular run the party and take it into the next election within 18 months,'' he said.

"I don't know who it's going to be, but I always support Jim Woolridge and I will continue to support any of those on the winning side in the Independence referendum.

"Sir John Swan backed the wrong horse so he got out. David Saul was non-committal on Independence. He was a fence-sitter. He was apparently looking popular but he should have made a different decision and said that (he) was not the one to run the party.'' The official line from the UBP was more effusive. Party chairman Sen. Gary Pitman said Dr. Saul's loss was "an enormous loss to Bermuda''.

"David Saul has served Bermuda with integrity, discipline, fairness, patience, good humour, expertise and with genuine respect for the needs and rights of every Bermudian,'' Sen. Pitman said in a statement.

"He has done a magnificent job for his Island home and for his party. We know that he will continue to do so in the next phase of his superb career.'' Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith said the announcement came as a surprise because it did not come during the height of the activities of the "People's Five''.

"Considering that it has not even been two years, it is a surprise,'' she said.

"But on the other hand, one should not be surprised at anything because we are aware of the series of crises through which the United Bermuda Party has been.

"I don't know what may have happened internally to cause the Premier to give up at this point in time. I do not know what the polls have shown him and there may have been other considerations.'' Still, Ms Smith said the key issue will be the UBP's next leader. But apart from that there would be no change in the patterns and procedures of the UBP style of governing.

"There may be a new face, a new person but no change in terms of the United Bermuda Party's policies or whatever else it is that they have been doing as Government these past 36 years.'' Meanwhile, former Home Affairs Minister Irving Pearman, who has not ruled out running for the UBP's leadership, said: "I was very disappointed. I would have liked to see him carry on. I think he did a an excellent job in very difficult circumstances.

"I have to give him credit for his determination. Even when things were very difficult, he wanted to stay on and resolve the very open divisions in the UBP.

"I am satisfied that what Dr. Saul did was in the best long term interests of the United Bermuda Party. There is no question that we will be facing an election.'' Surprise announcement From Page 1 Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness, who has also been suggested as a candidate, said he was disappointed Dr. Saul had resigned, but said he had made the decision in the best interests of the Country and the party.

"If you think about it you probably have to agree with him,'' Dr. Saul said.

"When I first heard it I was rather surprised and somewhat disappointed because he has been a very good leader in the time that he has been there.

"I have been an avid supporter of his. He has caused the entire Country to settle down from the time that he took over. There was a lot of political turmoil particularly on our side but he dealt with that.'' Former UBP campaign committee chairman Michael Winfield said he was completely surprised, adding: "He has done what he said he was going to and he has done it in very difficult circumstances.'' SURVEY SUR POLITICS PTL