Blairs jet off to Red Sea sun

Tony Blair and his family are enjoying the sights of Egypt today after flying out in secret for a New Year holiday.

Surprised tourists saw the Prime Minister and his wife Cherie visit the pyramids, the Sphinx and other popular destinations as they enjoyed the 70 degree sunshine.

The Blairs then flew to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh where the local governor's office said they would be spending five days at a luxury hotel.

The family arrived late last night in Cairo after Downing Street had gone to considerable lengths to keep the trip a secret. Officials last week suggested the Prime Minister would be spending Christmas and the New Year in Britain.

Even this morning a spokesman at No10 said he thought Mr Blair was at the Prime Minister's country home, Chequers. Asked whether Mr Blair was in fact in Egypt, the spokesman replied: "How did you know that?"

Downing Street later said that the Blairs had paid for their flights on a commercial airline. The spokesman said: "The family left late last night for a short, private holiday.

"I cannot confirm where they are staying for reasons of security and privacy. The Prime Minister will be back at work in the middle of next week."

No 10 said that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, currently in his Hull constituency, is in charge while the Prime Minister is away. Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak is currently at Sharm el Sheikh where he is scheduled to hold a number of meetings with other leaders.

The Prime Minister's spokesman discounted suggestions that the holiday is partly a working trip. "The visit is entirely private," the spokesman said. "He has no public engagements." But the significance of a visit to Egypt with its record of terrorist attacks on tourists will not be lost on the security services. In 1997 nine German tourists were shot dead on the temple steps at Luxor by Islamic terrorists. Downing Street also confirmed today that all four children, Euan, Nicky, Kathryn and baby Leo, are on the trip.

Mr Blair has been consistently at pains to maintain holiday privacy as far as possible. But he has been dogged by publicity over his destinations, his hosts and over the cost. In the past, Downing Street has conceded limited access for the media in an attempt to ensure privacy for the rest of the holiday. More recently, increased security problems have added to the headaches for both the family and No10. Mr Blair met President Mubarak in October, as part of his high-intensity tour of Middle Eastern countries in the wake of the terror attacks on America.

Egypt is counted as one of the strongest allies in the region in the campaign against terrorism and the Prime Minister is expected to renew his diplomatic effort in the New Year.

Mr Blair and his family flew to Cairo on the same plane as several journalists covering an OPEC summit that begins in the region tomorrow.