Okinawa governor criticises U.S.-Japan base deal

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/T342781.htm

TOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The governor of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa on Thursday criticised a central government deal with the United States on the relocation of a U.S. Marine base, a sign the agreement may face difficulties.

After months of wrangling, Washington and Tokyo agreed on Wednesday on a new location for the Futenma Marine Corps air base, clearing the way for a deal to reorganise the deployment of the nearly 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan.

The failure to reach an accord had threatened to damage relations between Japan and its most important ally, weeks ahead of a planned November visit by U.S. President George W. Bush. snip

A previous deal, which followed the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by three U.S. servicemen, was essentially an agreement to close Futenma within seven years, provided an alternative facility could be found on Okinawa.