Bill Clinton's official lawyer is escaping the pressures of the Monica Lewinsky case with a private holiday in Bermuda.

Bruce Lindsey, whose title is Counsellor to the President, leaves the Island on Saturday after a one-week vacation.

US Government sources last night confirmed Mr. Lindsey, one of the President's closest personal friends, arrived in Bermuda on Saturday.

He has been staying with US Consul General Robert Farmer at his official Chelston residence, while President Clinton is being hosted by Russian President Boris Yeltsin in Moscow.

Mr. Lindsey appeared before a grand jury last Friday as part of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's investigation into President Clinton.

But it is understood he declined to reveal the President's secrets, saying the Supreme Court had still to rule on his claim of attorney-client privilege.

Mr. Lindsey's personal friendship with the President goes back to their days together in Arkansas, where Mr. Clinton was District Attorney, then Governor.

He spent nearly four hours with the Grand Jury, answering questions not considered bound by privilege.

A report in the Washington Post said: "The questioning was designed to focus on questions that would not reignite the long-running dispute over Lindsey's conversations with the President, which the White House maintains are protected from disclosure.

"The White House would not say whether Lindsey refused to answer any questions, but there were none of the signs that usually indicate a dispute over testimony in the closed Grand Jury room, such as lawyers rushing to a judge's chambers or filing sealed papers at the appeals court.'' Mr. Lindsey was described as a "key figure'' in the Lewinsky investigation, who senior White House officials have been trying to protect from cross-examination.

But the bulk of Mr. Clinton's legal advice in the Lewinsky case has been given by his personal lawyer David Kendall.

Mr. Lindsey was attending a private dinner party hosted by Mr. Farmer last night.