U2 frontman BONO knew former British Prime Minister TONY BLAIR would be a great leader, because he can play guitar. Blair played the instrument during his teenage years in rock band Ugly Rumours - something Bono believes helped make his years as Prime Minister a success. He says, "They’re often very clever (guitar players), very studious - they spend hours in the bedroom practicing - you know, swottish.

"What I admire the most about Tony Blair is that despite all accusations of a slick PR machine, spin doctoring and the like, he has almost all of the time exposed himself to bad press and outcry for doing the things he believed in." Blair officially stood down as PM on Wednesday afternoon (27Jun07) and has been replaced by former Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.

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