The Premier agreed to the Opposition leader's request for a clean campaign on the condition that he condemned ads placed by the The Reality on Independence Group.

United Bermuda Party leader Michael Dunkley had asked the Premier to participate in a joint news conference calling for a clean campaign in the final five days before people go to the polls on Tuesday.

He wrote: "The report this week of a security threat to yourself is disturbing. I am sure you agree with me that there is no place in Bermuda for behaviour of this type.

"We have a duty to show leadership and to try to set the tone so that the remaining days of this election are conducted in a dignified, open and fair manner, free from extremism of any kind.

"With Christmas approaching, and in the spirit of goodwill, I would like to propose a joint news conference featuring you and I to issue an appeal to supporters of all parties to tone down the rhetoric and commit to conducting the rest of this election campaign in a respectful and tolerant manner."

Premier Ewart Brown replied and said: ''I am in receipt of your letter. I too was disturbed to learn of the threatening correspondence sent to me through the post.

"I agree that part of our responsibility as political leaders is to encourage reasoned discourse between our supporters and candidates ¿ even in the heat of a hard-fought political campaign.

"To that end, I hope you will agree to join me in condemning the misinformation campaign being waged by the Reality on Independence Group (ROI Group) and shadowy figures spreading lies on the Internet.

"If we can agree on this point in your advocated "spirit of goodwill", I think we can move forward with a joint statement that sets the proper tone for the country.

"Like you I am keenly interested in Bermudians receiving political messages that are truthful.

"I am attaching a statement that I invite you to sign."

Dr. Brown's statement asked voters to concentrate on the parties' platforms and said that both men agreed to "a political campaign that is dignified and free from extremism", that both parties "paid advertisements to be based in fact" and "threatening speech and actions" to end.

The statement also said: "We both call upon campaigners like the Reality on Independence Group to cease with advertisements ¿ designed to trick the public into believing something that isn't true."

The full page adverts, which have run in the Bermuda Sun and The Royal Gazette, have alleged that a vote for the Progressive Labour Party is a vote for Independence.

The ads have also listed reasons the ROI supporters do not believe Independence is a good idea, such as it could require Bermudians to have visas when they travel to the US or mean the end of Bermudians students receiving reduced tuition at UK universities.

The group questions: "Independence... Does it really add up?" and states that they are not affiliated with either party and contains both PLP and UBP supporters.