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US apology over 'rape' in Japan | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The US ambassador to Japan has offered an apology to the people of Okinawa and the family of a schoolgirl there who says she was raped by a US serviceman. | |
The marine, who is stationed on the island, denies raping the 14-year-old, but according to police he has admitted trying to force her to kiss him. | |
Okinawa's governor has called for a review of the agreement on the status of US bases and personnel in Japan. | |
Okinawa saw mass protests after three US servicemen raped a girl in 1995. | |
'Truly regrettable' | |
The US ambassador, Thomas Schieffer, bowed in front of the governor of Okinawa and apologised. | |
He said it was "truly regrettable" that the incident had occurred. | |
"My heart goes out," he said, "to this young girl, to her family and to all of the people affected by this." | |
He said the US military commander in Okinawa felt just as bad about the situation as he did. | |
Three days after the alleged rape took place Marine Tyrone Hadnott, 38, has not been charged. | |
He has reportedly admitted that he did use force to try to kiss the girl, but he denies raping her, and has told police he did not know she was under-age. | |
Because he lives outside the base where he works, it has been easier for police to collect evidence from his car and from his house than it might have been. | |
But the governor of Okinawa has still called for a drastic review of the rules that govern the status of US service personnel in Japan. | |
Japanese newspapers have also expressed anger at the incident. | |
One newspaper asked how many times the country had to face what it called "barbaric acts" by American servicemen. | |
The US points out its military has what it calls zero tolerance for sexual assault. |
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