U.S. envoy promises support in Okinawa rape case
Alleged assault of woman by two servicemen on Okinawa adds to the rising tide of anger against American military presence on island
The US envoy to Japan has vowed "complete and unequivocal co-operation" over the alleged rape of a local woman by two servicemen on an island fed up with American military presence.
Ambassador John Roos sought swiftly to reassure people on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa that he shared their anger over an incident that has the potential to act as a lightning rod for growing anti-American feeling.
Roos said the US government and military would "provide full co-operation to the Japanese authorities in their investigation".
After a meeting Vice-Foreign Minister Shuji Kira, who is standing in while Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba is in Europe, Roos said: "I understand the anger many people feel with respect to this reported incident."
He wanted the Japanese people to know that he shared that anger.
"Not only me as a United States' ambassador, but the entire United States' government including our military will continue to work our hearts out to earn the trust of the Okinawan people and the people of Japan," he said.