U.S. ambassador apologizes to Okinawa governor over alleged rape of schoolgirl

NAHA -- U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer apologized to Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on Wednesday for the alleged rape of a junior high school girl by a U.S. Marine stationed in the prefecture.

The diplomat promised to cooperate closely with the governor and law enforcement authorities to get to the bottom of the incident, while taking measures to prevent a recurrence.

"We also want to reach out to the girl's family and tell them how sorry we are," Schieffer told Nakaima at prefectural government headquarters in Naha on Wednesday afternoon. Schieffer was accompanied by Bruce Write, commander of U.S. forces in Japan.

Nakaima handed a letter to Wright, urging him to fully disclose to prefectural residents the details of the preventive measures that the United States will take.

Following the meeting, Schieffer told reporters that the United States will place priority on getting to the bottom of the incident.

He expressed hope that the incident will not adversely affect the planned relocation of U.S. Futenma Air Station in the Okinawa Prefecture city of Ginowan to nearby Nago.