Bermuda's decision to accept four former Guantánamo detainees could soon be followed by countries around the world, according to US political and civil rights activist Al Sharpton.

Reverend Sharpton, who flew into the Island to show his support to Premier Ewart Brown, yesterday described the decision to accept the four men as a moral one.

"We must have a world where people rise above politics and give priority to the preservation of human life and dignity," he said at a press conference in Senate chambers.

"In that spirit we have other nations that are extending the same conduct. Italy and others are following the tone set in this [Bermuda] nation."

Rev. Sharpton added he was "never more proud of Bermuda" for taking in the men, who spent more than seven years at Guantánamo despite being declared innocent.

He said that other nations should "take the risk to be right" too.

Dr. Brown's decision to accept the four Uighurs without consulting Britain sparked public protests with one demonstration drawing 1,500 protesters.

Members of his own party complained he had left the Cabinet in the dark, while the Opposition denounced his autocratic leadership style and tabled a no-confidence motion.

The motion failed on Friday after a 14-hour debate which saw Progressive Labour Party MPs vote along party lines.

However, he faced fierce criticism for his secretive handling of the move. Cabinet Minster Dale Butler resigned immediately after the vote.

Rev. Sharpton would not be drawn on why his own country did not accept the Uighurs saying he was not in Bermuda to discuss his views on American politics.

When asked if he understood why Bermudians were irritated cleaning up a mess created by the US Rev. Sharpton said: "If you come out of the ghetto, like I did, you worry afterwards whose mess it was and how it was cleaned up. The main thing is to get the mess cleaned up."

While in Bermuda he met with spiritual leaders to discuss the morality of the decision. Reverend Bishop Vernon Lambe of the First Church of God, speaking on behalf of the Bermuda clergy, said the discussion with Rev. Sharpton went well and urged Bermudians to treat the Uighurs with compassion despite their concerns over how the decision was taken.

He added that the clergy expressed those concerns to Dr. Brown at the meeting.

Rev. Sharpton also met with the former detainees, who are ethnic Uighurs from northwest China.