The resettlement of four Guantanamo detainees in Bermuda appears to be a goodwill gesture rather than a quid quo pro, according to a US Congressman.

Nevertheless, Bill Delahunt said members of Congress will "not forget" Bermuda's actions.

Democrat Congressman Mr. Delahunt, said the granting of asylum to the four Uighurs would only strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Meanwhile, US Consul General Gregory Slayton appealed for calm in the community.

"People feel strongly about this, even in my own family, I understand that," said Mr. Slayton.

"I was presented with a fait accompli, as was the Governor, but we are making sure we can move forward together."

The US Consul General and Congressman Delahunt met with the media yesterday to discuss the resettlement of the Uighurs, who arrived on the Island on June 11, and the resulting political fallout.

Congressman Delahunt met with the men at Camden on Saturday and at the Rosedon Hotel yesterday.

The Democrat is currently engaged in a series of hearings as to how 22 Uighurs were arrested in late 2001 on suspicion of terrorist links to Al Qaeda. His visit to Bermuda at the weekend was to learn more about their "apprehension and detention", according to his Chief of Staff, Mark Forest.

Congressman Delahunt, who is chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organisations, Human Rights and Oversight, yesterday described the meetings as "extremely informative and productive".

"These people are not terrorists but I would describe them as Chinese dissidents," he said.

"I am confident as time moves on they will integrate well into the community. I know they are grateful to the people of Bermuda."

Asked why the US had refused to take the Uighurs, Congressman Delahunt put this down to "a lack of political will".

He said he and Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, the subcommittee's ranking member, wrote to President George Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last year, asking for the men to be resettled in the US.

"We strongly urged that these Uighurs be released into the US. They were not only a non-threat, they were not terrorists," said Congressman Delahunt.

"I would describe them as friends of the United States," he added.

"It is clear in China they have been a persecuted minority and it's my view and that of other members of Congress they should be allowed into the US, but there's a lack of political will.

"Part of me coming here is to inform myself so I am better able to inform other concerned members of Congress," he said.

Congressman Delahunt, who represents the Tenth District of Massachusetts, said he had also met with the Governor of Bermuda, Sir Richard Gozney.

"We talked about the strength of the relationship between the United States and England. We talked about the Bermuda Constitution, and his view in terms of the role of the United States and the role of Bermuda.

"I indicated to him that clearly the United States and Great Britain have been allied in difficult times before. We help each other and we continue to feel their support and assistance in helping us to solve a problem. And that problem is the symbol that Guantanamo represents to the rest of the world.

"I think what's important now is some patience and some time, and some thoughtful conversation and dialogue, and hopefully we can move forward."

Congressman Delahunt was also asked to comment on the way in which the detainees were introduced to the Island, arriving in the early hours of the morning on June 11.

"It very well could be that the matter could have been handled differently, but I don't know that," he said.

"I do know we have four individuals here who are not terrorists but Chinese dissidents. People who have been persecuted and whose human rights have been violated. Many of their community have been subjected to torture and execution. That to me is the overriding concern.

"Let's look at this from the case of doing what is right and what is moral. It is clear that the people of Bermuda have taken up this challenge and I am hopeful there will be other countries, including the United States, who will meet that obligation."

He said Randall Schriver, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State to Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, had told the subcommittee the Uighurs were not a threat.

"He was intimately involved with Guantanamo and with the entire processes surrounding Guantanamo," said the Congressman.

"I have a quote from his testimony and would respectfully ask the people of Bermuda to listen to what he has to say. This is a high ranking member of the Bush administration: 'The Uighurs being detained in Guantanamo Bay is a tragic situation. The Uighurs that have been cleared for release should not have been held for as long'."

Speaking on the political turmoil in Bermuda in the wake of the men's arrival, Congressman Delahunt said: "Clearly there have been some disagreements in terms of how this was handled by the Government itself, and that is what democracy is about.

"So if disagreements and passion and heated debate are a reflection of democracy then democracy is alive and well here in Bermuda."

He said: "It is the most courageous countries that have stepped up and I believe that is an adept description of Bermuda in this particularly difficult moment in American history.

"President Obama has committed to closing Guantanamo Bay because it is a symbol in the world that has done poorly by how the United States is viewed. We will close Guantanamo Bay and we are grateful to those most courageous nations."

Asked whether a financial agreement had been reached between the US and Bermuda for taking the detainees, such as was reported in the case of Palau, he said: "I keep hearing that number of $200 million.

"My understanding is that we've had a Trust Agreement with Palau for years and those monies and that figure being quoted here is a result of that Trust Agreement, not because of a willingness on the part of Palau to accept some of the remaining Uighur detainees."

Mr. Slayton said: "Is there a quid quo pro? I'm not aware of any formal agreement. I was informed the Premier did this as a humanitarian gesture to help the US out of a huge jam."

He added: "I am quite confident that this is something the US Congress is not going to forget who stepped up and who was helpful in America's moment of need."

Congressman Delahunt said: "I will echo that. I echo those exact words. We will not forget who our friends were in those difficult moments."

Mr. Slayton said: "It is important that emotions subside. I didn't know anything about this until Thursday morning when a senior White House official came to my office and basically apologised and said, 'I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this earlier'. He said, 'We feel strongly they are not terrorists at all, but non-combatants'.

"You can imagine I was a little surprised but the point the Congressman is making is the right one.

"Going back, could this have been done differently? I think that is certainly the case but I want to thank the Governor. He has represented the UK with dignity and honour, and a huge amount of class.

"This could have escalated into a huge international incident but he has played it down and we are truly thankful to him and his government, and also the people of Bermuda."