A US Court of Appeals judge has sarcastically suggested Bermuda would be "a really good deal" as a destination for five Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Federal judge A. Raymond Randolph made the remark on hearing the five Uighurs want to settle in another location rather than the Pacific island of Palau.

Associated Press reported the manner in which it was made as somewhat sarcastic, with the judge having "scoffed".

In the Court of Appeals on Thursday the US government sought to stop an appeal by the detainees to be able to settle where they want.

The five Chinese Muslims say they do not want to live in Palau once they are released from Guantanamo Bay. Their lawyer Peter Sabin Willett told the court they wanted to resettle elsewhere and that they had a right to have their views considered.

The US government is currently trying to find a country to accept the five former terror suspects, who were cleared of being 'enemy combatants'.

The men say they may be killed if they return to China, as it persecutes the Muslim Uighur minority.

The US has held 22 Uighurs at Guantanamo Bay during the War on Terror, four of whom have been resettled in Bermuda, five in Albania and six in Palau.

In June 2009 the Pacific island offered temporary asylum to the 17 Uighurs remaining after five departed for Albania. However, the five men being represented at the Court of Appeals rejected Palau's offer.

In this week's Federal court case Mr. Willett said any new home would need to have "cultural affinity" for the Chinese Muslims.

According to Associated Press however, Judge Randolph was dismissive of the five men using the court system to find a more desirable destination.

He told the court, Bermuda would be "a really good deal".

Mr. Willett pointed out that the Island had employment opportunities, referring to the four Uighurs given asylum here last June.

Khalil Mamut, Abilikim Turahun, Abdullah Abdulqadir and Salahidin Abdulahat were given $51,000-a-year jobs as grounds keepers at the public Port Royal Golf Course.

Their asylum here however, created a storm of controversy when it emerged Premier Ewart Brown had agreed to resettle the former Guantanamo detainees after negotiating directly with the US, without Britain's knowledge.

Neither Governor Sir Richard Gozney or the UK approved the move. However, as the matter was external affairs, it was outside the remit of the Bermuda Government.

Dr. Brown said the move was made on humanitarian grounds and that Bermuda would benefit from improved US relations.

The Premier was unavailable for comment yesterday on whether Government would be willing to welcome the five Uighurs still at Guantanamo.

Their lawyer Mr. Willett however, told The Royal Gazette Bermuda had not been discussed as an option.

Commenting on this week's Court of Appeals case, he said: "At one point in the argument one of the judges commented that four of our clients have been very lucky to land in Bermuda.

"I agreed with the judge that we and they feel very fortunate in that regard.

"However, we have not sought that additional Uighur men would be resettled in Bermuda. While I am sure the five remaining men would welcome an invitation to resettlement, I am not aware of any discussions to that effect between US or Bermudian officials."

Britain is still in discussions with the US on the four Uighurs brought here on June 11. It is understood they have no travel documents or US passports so currently cannot leave the Island.

Attorney General Kim Wilson has said she believes the men can legally live in Bermuda indefinitely but are unlikely to ever gain Bermudian status.

Governor Sir Richard Gozney said last week: "We remain in discussion with the US Administration about the issue of the Uighurs." He added: "The four Uighurs are not eligible for UK travel documents. The British Government does not consider claims for asylum and thus for refugee status except from applicants who are in the UK."