Okinawa mayor approves heliport, then quits

The mayor of the Japanese city of Nago, on Okinawa Island, has approved the building of a floating heliport for the United States military - even though the citizens of Nago voted against the project in a referendum.

The mayor Tetsuya Higa then announced he was quitting politics, saying he was taking responsibility for dividing the city into two camps.

Fifty-four percent of those who voted in the non-binding referendum on Sunday rejected the heliport which will replace another American air base as part of planned troop reductions.

The prime minister, Ryutaro Hashimoto, was reportedly moved to tears when he heard of the mayor's decision, which accords with Japanese government policy.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service