US-Japan in talks on US forces

Anti-US feeling on Okinawa has been growing

The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has said there is "no need" to revise a pact with Japan over the treatment of US military personnel suspected of crimes.

The agreement came under strain earlier this month over custody of a US airman accused of raping a Japanese woman on the southern island of Okinawa.

We understand the Okinawan people's desire for a reduced footprint

Colin Powell

The US presence on Okinawa has raised persistent concerns among local people, with two other servicemen handed over to prosecutors on Sunday on separate vandalism charges.

During a brief trip to Tokyo on Tuesday, Mr Powell did say the US would have new talks to try to reduce the impact of the US troops.

He said he would not rule anything out, including a possible reduction in the 25,000 troops on Okinawa.

Standoff

Opponents of the US military presence on Okinawa have been demanding changes to the Status of Forces Agreement between Japan and the US that would force base authorities to surrender suspects to Japanese police more quickly.

The alleged rape took place in this car park

US military officials did not hand over its airman until four days after an arrest warrant was issued, arguing they wanted guarantees that his rights would be respected. Japanese authorities reportedly agreed to limits on how long the 24-year-old suspect would be questioned.

The delay angered many Japanese people who took it as an insult to the nation's justice system.

But Mr Powell, speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, said the US government was satisfied with the way the incident was handled.

"We see no need to change the Status of Forces Agreement," he said. "It worked in this instance."

New talks

Mr Powell said the new US ambassador to Japan, former Senator Howard Baker, would travel to Okinawa in the next few days to discuss how to "minimize the impact" of the US troops.

Colin Powell is on a tour of Asian nations

But he ruled out a complete withdrawal of US troops from the island.

Following the visit to Tokyo, Mr Powell flew to Hanoi, his first trip to Vietnam since serving in the Vietnam War more than 30 years ago.

He is due to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and security partners.