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Alleged rape angers Japan
13/02/2008 09:12 - (SA)
Tokyo - The US ambassador to Japan on Wednesday flew to the southern island of Okinawa, officials said, amid public anger over a US Marine's alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl.
Ambassador Thomas Schieffer flew in the morning and will hold talks with Okinawa's governor, Hirokazu Nakaima, later in the day, said Tom Kreutzer, a spokesperson for the US consulate on the island.
Schieffer had returned to Japan on Tuesday from a foreign trip. In his absence, Japan summoned the embassy's number two over the rape case.
A 38-year-old Marine was arrested on Monday over allegations that he raped a 14-year-old girl in his car on the island. He has admitted trying to forcibly kiss her but denied raping her.
The incident rekindled memories of three US Marines' gang-rape in 1995 of a 12-year-old girl which set off major protests on the island.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said on Tuesday that the latest alleged rape "can never be forgiven", while Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said the incident would inevitably trigger further opposition to US troops.
US officials have pledged to help the investigation and said they have no tolerance for sexual assault.
"Rape is a horrendous crime and we take these allegations very seriously. We are working very closely with Japanese officials on the matter," State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said on Tuesday in Washington.
The United States stations more than 40 000 troops in Japan under a security treaty to defend its key Asian ally, which has been officially pacifist since World War II.
Okinawa, which was under US control from 1945 to 1972, is home to more than half of the troops.
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