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TOKYO, JAPAN - Japanese police Monday arrested a US Marine on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl on the southern island of Okinawa, an incident that could affect plans to relocate a US base there, officials said.
Tyrone Luther Hadnott of Camp Courtney Base was arrested early Monday over the rape, which allegedly occurred in his car in Okinawa city, a local police spokesman said.
Hadnott, 38, has denied the accusation, saying he only embraced the girl and kissed her forcefully, another official said.
The official said the Marine met the young girl in Okinawa and offered to drive her home, but instead took her to his house, where he tried to kiss her.
But when the girl started crying Hadnott said he would take her home and the pair got back into the car, where the girl called friends and asked them for help before hanging up the phone.
"The girl was very panicked and she was crying a lot," said the police official. She was questioned by female police and taken to hospital.
Okinawa, which was captured by US forces in one of World War II's bloodiest battles and returned to Japan in 1972, has seen frequent protests against US forces, particularly in 1995 after three US Marines gang-raped a 12-year-old girl.
The Japanese government telephoned the US embassy to protest, demanding it enforce strict discipline and take steps to prevent such incidents.
"This is a serious crime that contravenes a woman's rights and should not be forgiven. I feel great anger," said Okinawa governor Hirokazu Nakaima to reporters after the arrest.
"Japan will deal with this issue strictly based on law and evidence. From the point of view of public sentiment, this is definitely not good for the US-Japan alliance," warned Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.
The US embassy declined to confirm the case as investigations were ongoing.
"Obviously we take this very seriously and we take steps to prevent crimes from our servicemen," said embassy press officer David Marks.
The incident occurred as Tokyo is attempting to persuade residents of Okinawa to accept plans to transfer US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station from the island capital to the city of Nago in the north.
"I would like to listen carefully to residents' opinions as we deal with this issue of relocation and reducing the burden," said Fumio Kishida, minister of state for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, according to Jiji
Press.
The United States stations some 37,000 troops in Japan as part of a security alliance, with about 13,000 more personnel offshore.
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