And Government is to appoint PLP veteran and barrister Lois Browne Evans to the post.

But legal insiders said the Director of Public Prosecutions job -- which must also be created to avoid suggestions of political interference in criminal matters -- will be put on hold while a suitable candidate is sought.

And that means Solicitor General William Pearce -- currently acting as AG -- is in line to take over the post on an interim basis until the new position is filled.

But one insider said Bermudian lawyer and Senior Crown Counsel Khamisi Tokunbo is still the odds-on favourite, despite fears the job might go to an overseas candidate.

At least two expressions of interest from overseas have been received at Government House -- even though the job has yet to be advertised.

The Royal Gazette reported earlier this month that Premier Jennifer Smith was set to appoint veteran politician Mrs. Browne Evans, currently Legislative Affairs Minister, to the Attorney General's job and that Mr. Tokunbo was in line for the post of DPP.

The appointment of the DPP is in the hands of Governor Thorold Masefield -- although he takes advice from politicians and other interested parties before making his choice.

The Bermuda Bar Association is understood to be one of the bodies which would be consulted by Mr. Masefield before he makes a final decision on the English-style DPP's job.

Bar Association president Narinder Hargun declined to say whether his organisation had been consulted.

And he added on the Bermudian versus non-Bermudian argument that the BBA hasn't taken "a formal position on this''.

But a lawyer said: "All things being equal, we want a Bermudian -- but the issue is whether we have an experienced one.'' And he pointed out that -- irrespective of titles -- a senior member of the Attorney General's Chambers has always been in charge of prosecutions and an acting DPP would be sufficient while the interview process was underway.

Legislation already passed by the House of Assembly has paved the way for the creation of the two appointments.

And Mrs. Browne Evans -- the grande dame of Bermudian politics -- is the obvious choice for the job, with Environment Minister and former Magistrate Arthur Hodgson an outside bet.

And her current job at Legislative Affairs could easily be folded into the Attorney General's job.

Questions raised about DPP's position Last month, Mrs. Browne Evans said she would be "reluctant'' to take on the AG's job -- but left the door open to offers.

Mrs. Browne Evans added: "I was never anxious to do anything -- but I would do everything I was asked to do.'' Mr. Tokunbo is the most experienced Bermudian candidate for the DPP's chair -- but some lawyers have raised concerns over his alleged close links to the ruling PLP.

And they have raised question marks over his role in the controversial Rebecca Middleton murder case. No-one has yet been convicted in the 1996 slaying.

Accused Justis Smith walked free from court last year after a Supreme Court judge ruled there was insufficient evidence.

Attempts to re-charge Kirk Mundy-- who was jailed after admitting being an accessory after the fact in the killing -- with murder failed all the way up to the Island's final court of appeal, the Privy Council in London.