11-06-09 Bermuda takes Guantanamo Uighurs

Four Chinese Muslim Uighurs have been released from the US detention centre at Guantanamo and resettled in Bermuda,US officials said.The four men are part of a group of Chinese nationals handed over to US forces in Afghanistan,but found four years ago not to be "enemy combatants".But Britain has told Bermuda,a UK overseas territory,it should have consulted London before accepting them.Beijing has demanded the return of all Uighurs held by the US forces to China.This week the US said some would be sent to the Pacific island of Palau.Soon after the four former inmates landed in Bermuda,a chain of islands lying off America's eastern seaboard,US justice department spokesman Dean Boyd said:"We will consult regularly with the government of Bermuda on the status of these individuals."They will not be allowed to enter the United States without prior permission, US officials said.The Foreign Office in London expressed its concern at Bermuda's decision to accept the men."The Bermuda government consider this to be a matter regarding their day-to-day responsibility for immigration," a statement said."We have underlined to the Bermuda government that it should have consulted the UK on whether this falls within their competence or is a foreign affairs or security issue for which the Bermuda Government do not have delegated responsibility."