The Uighurs appear to have nowhere to go

The US Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by two Chinese Muslims who are seeking release from the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, in Cuba.

The judges declined to hear their case because the men are due to have a hearing in a lower court next month.

A US federal judge has already said their detention is unlawful, but ruled that he could not order their release.

However, the Bush administration says it cannot return the Uighurs to China because they would face persecution there.

It does not want to admit them to the US, and cannot find another country to take them.

CHINA'S UIGHURS

Beijing has frequently cracked down on Uighur dissidents, who are seeking autonomy in the country's north-western Xinjiang province.

The Chinese government accuses Uighur militants of waging a bombing and assassination campaign, and receiving training at al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan.

The two men have been held at Guantanamo since June 2002. The detention centre has about 490 inmates, 15 of whom are believed to be Chinese Uighurs.

Their case could return to the Supreme Court after the lower court hearing.