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Blairs take surprise holiday amid the pyramids

Marie Woolf,Chief Political Correspondent
Friday 28 December 2001 01:00 GMT
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Tony Blair and his family have secretly flown out of Britain for a quick break in Egypt, and spent hours admiring the pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza. The Blairs left for Cairo on Boxing Day and are said to have headed to a luxury hotel in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh.

Despite Downing Street's attempts to keep the holiday out of the public eye, the Prime Minister, his wife, Cherie, and their four children were filmed yesterday in casual clothes strolling through Egypt's most famous tourist attraction in 21C (70F) sunshine. Mr Blair wore a black and blue T-shirt, jeans and running shoes. Mrs Blair was in a loose-fitting white top and trousers and was seen listening intently to a talk by an Egyptologist, Zahi Hawas.

Downing Street said last night the Blairs paid for their holiday and the trip was private and would not include diplomatic meetings, although the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, is also said to be at Sharm el Sheikh. The vacation is certain to be interpreted as a gesture of solidarity with Egypt, which has supported Britain and America over the bombing of Afghanistan.

Samia Khafaga, director of the Egyptian embassy's tourist office, said: "We had no idea the Blairs were in Egypt but we are so glad to hear they are there. It is a very good advert for the country. To have such a dignitary visit our country is very effective for tourism." Confidence has yet to recover fully from the Luxor massacre in 1997 when Islamic gunmen killed 58 tourists, including six Britons.

John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, is in charge until Mr Blair returns in the middle of next week.

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