Okinawa: Japan and US agree troop crime measures

Japan and the United States agreed Friday on measures aimed at preventing crimes by US servicemembers in Okinawa after a murder case allegedly involving an American Marine triggered outrage.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the two countries agreed to strengthen education for US military personnel in Okinawa with Japanese government involvement. He said Okinawa prefecture's views would be reflected in an orientation guide used for newly arriving US military personnel.

Motegi said a senior foreign ministry official would give educational talks to US military members in Okinawa about community relations and Japan's legal system. He also said Japan-US joint street patrols would become more frequent and cover a wider area.

Japanese prosecutors indicted a US Marine last month on suspicion of murdering a 39-year-old Japanese woman at an Okinawa hotel on October 3. The case reignited controversy over the heavy US military presence on the southern island.

US forces on the island were barred from drinking alcohol for two days early last month and faced a 30-day curfew. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said this week that a second Marine was later arrested on allegations he drove while intoxicated. US officials said Friday they would extend the curfew to some servicemembers through December 7.