Okinawa heliport row goes to court

Reports from Japan say a group of residents of the city of Nago, on Okinawa island, are to sue the former mayor, Tetsuya Higa, for approving the constuction of a floating heliport for the United States military.

One of the residents said they would seek damages for what he described as an abuse of power.

Mr Higa approved the project, although the people of Nago voted against it in a referendum.

Mr Higa subsequently quit politics, blaming himself for dividing the citizens.

But one of the residents planning to sue Mr Higa said his resignation would not help to resolve the dispute.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service