The United States has decided to hand over to Japan a US airman suspected of raping a Japanese woman on the southern island of Okinawa, Foreign Minister Ms Makiko Tanaka said today.
"The United States has decided to hand over the suspect," she told reporters.
The alleged rape followed a string of offences by US forces on the southern Japanese island - reluctant host to the bulk of the US military presence in Japan - and has fanned smouldering resentment among Okinawan residents.
Japanese irritation had also been mounting because of the US delay over a decision on handing over Staff Sergeant Timothy Woodland, the suspect in last Friday's alleged crime. Sergeant Woodland has denied any crime and has not been charged.