Japanese vote against US military heliport

Residents of the Japanese city of Nago, on Okinawa island, have voted against a plan to build an offshore heliport for the United States military.

Municipal officials said there was an eighty two per cent turnout in the referendum, which correspondents say is the first time the Japanese have been able to vote on the construction of a new American military facility.

With almost all votes counted the result was about fourteen thousand for and sixteen thousand against.The vote is non-binding but the BBC correspondent in Japan says it will be difficult for the government to ignore.

Supporters of the project said it would benefit the local economy; opponents included those concerned about the environmental effects and those who resent the American military presence on Okinawa.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service