The US official who arranged for the Uighurs to come to Bermuda from Guantánamo Bay has revealed that it led to him being "admonished by the British Government in very clear terms".

Daniel Fried, the special envoy tasked by President Barack Obama with closing the detention camp, told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that he was reprimanded by the UK after Khalil Mamut, Abilikim Turahun, Abdullah Abdulqadir and Salahidin Abdulahat were brought to the Island on June 11.

The men arrived after Premier Ewart Brown struck a deal directly with the US, leaving Britain out of the loop. Governor Sir Richard Gozney and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said afterwards he had no authority to do so as the matter involved external affairs and was outside the remit of the Bermuda Government.

Mr. Fried told the BBC in an exclusive interview: "The British Government, it is fair to say, cannot be considered part of the deal.

"This was worked out between the Americans and the Bermudans (sic). I will say that I've been admonished by the British Government in very clear terms."

He defended the agreement to bring the former terror suspects here. "We are very grateful to the Bermudan Government and the behaviour of the four Uighurs has been exemplary, which really bolsters our contention that they were not any kind of threat," he said. "These are four people who are enjoying freedom who would otherwise be in Guantánamo."

Sir Richard announced on Wednesday that Police had completed a security review of the Uighurs and considered them to be a moderate threat, with no specific concerns. The UK and US remain in talks about the men's future.

The US Congress has blocked the transfer of any cleared detainees from Guantánamo to the US mainland. Mr. Fried told the BBC he would not criticise Congress, but added: "It is fair to say, as just an objective statement, that the US could resettle more detainees [worldwide], had we been willing to take in some.

"But I also have to state that parliamentarians in Europe and the US have raised questions about security — and we have to respect those opinions."

He said his job of closing down Guantánamo before January 22, 2010, was a miserable one as he is "cleaning up a problem" and figuring out what to do with the remaining prisoners is hugely complicated.

There are 226 detainees now left — with just 15 moved elsewhere and one having committed suicide. The US is reviewing each detainee's case to decide which prisoners should be prosecuted, which should be freed and which transferred to another country.