TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) said on Thursday that he would stick to a promise to make a decision on the future of US troops based in Okinawa Prefecture by May.

The prime minister, speaking in parliament, promised that between now and May the coalition government would thoroughly discuss all issues concerning a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between Japan and the United States that was signed in 2006.

"I will reach a decision by May," the prime minister said. "I want to make sure the site is one from which we can gain an understanding from the United States."

The decision of what to do about tens of thousands of troops that were supposed to stay in Okinawa Prefecture for the foreseeable future based upon the SOFA agreement signed by the former governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and then US President George W. Bush has caused a rift between the two allies in recent months.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said earlier on Thursday that the decision by the DPJ would not mean an end to SOFA negotiations. He pointed out that the DPJ decision would then be presented to both locals and the United States for further negotiations.

An election scheduled for Sunday in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, that has become a referendum on the SOFA issue is being closely watched by the prime minister.