Japan today urged the United States to quickly authorise the arrest of a US airman suspected of an alleged rape of a woman in Okinawa last week.
"It would be a lot of trouble if it takes much time," Japan’s ForeignMinister, Mr Makiko Tanaka, said.
The US said yesterday it had yet to make adecision about whether to hand over Staff Sgt Timothy Woodland to the Okinawa police and warned a review of his case couldtake some time.
Under an accord governing the presence of US forces in Japan,military commanders do not have to surrender servicemen suspected ofcrimes until prosecutors indict them.
Sgt Woodland (24) was today being questioned for the sixth day by Okinawa police in connection with the alleged rape. He remained in US military custody at Kadena Air Base where he is stationed.
On Monday, Okinawa police obtained an arrest warrant from thelocal court for Sgt Woodland, who has denied rape charges but reportedlyadmitted having consensual sex with the woman.
She said the incident took place before dawn on Friday in the parking lot ofAmerican Village, a shopping and amusement centre outside the Kadena base.
APF