Ambassador Thomas Schieffer is also due to meet Japan's Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura later in the day.

The US serviceman denies raping the girl but according to police sources admits touching her in his car.

In 1995 there were mass protests in Okinawa after three US servicemen raped a 12-year-old girl.

'Had enough'

Ambassador Schieffer has flown down to Okinawa, the island that lies to the far south of the rest of Japan, to meet its governor.

He wants to convey his concern about the case and to reassure officials there that the US will co-operate fully with the investigation.

Later he will hold talks about the issue with Mr Komura, who on Tuesday said the country had "had enough" of crime carried out by US service personnel.

Staff Sergeant Tyrone Hadnott, 38, denies raping the 14-year-old girl in his car but he has admitted forcing her down and kissing her. He is now being questioned by prosecutors.

Across Okinawa politicians and civic groups have continued to express their outrage.

The decision by the US ambassador to fly down there shows how worried the Americans are that this could again fuel opposition to the presence of so many of their servicemen and women on the island.

The rape of another schoolgirl by three US soldiers 13 years ago was followed by large anti-American protests on Okinawa.

This time senior Japanese politicians and the Americans appear to be doing all they can to try to show they are taking the alleged incident very seriously indeed, perhaps in the hope that they can prevent similar mass demonstrations.

(BBC)

<< Back