US sailor arrested for murder: Report

Japanese police arrested yesterday a US sailor on suspicion of murdering and robbing a taxi driver last month, domestic media reported, the lastest case of crime linked to the US military in Japan.

The seaman, who is of Nigerian descent, had been in US custody on a charge of desertion and was handed over to Japanese police by agreement with US authorities, US and Japanese officials were quoted as saying in the Japanese media.

Police would not immediately confirm the arrest.