(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-15 19:48

TOKYO - Four US Marines based in southwest Japan have been charged with raping a Japanese woman last October, a US military spokesman said on Friday, days after the arrest of another Marine for suspected rape of a schoolgirl on the southern island of Okinawa.

People protest in front of a US camp against the suspected rape of a 14-year-old Japanese girl by US Marine Tyrone Hadnott in Okinawa February 12, 2008. [Agencies]

US military authorities at Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station are holding hearings to determine whether the four Marines, aged 20 to 39, should face courts martial for the suspected rape of the woman, who was 19 at the time.

Japanese police had decided last year not to proceed with a case against the four over the incident, which Japanese media said occurred in a car at a car park in nearby Hiroshima City after the Marines met the young woman at an event hall.

"The hearing is on today and is expected to possibly roll over until tomorrow," an Iwakuni air station spokesman said, adding that it could take some time before a decision on possible courts martial was made.

On Monday, Japanese police arrested a US Marine stationed on Okinawa -- where many residents have long resented being host to the bulk of the US troops in Japan -- on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

The Marine, 38-year-old Tyrone Hadnott, has denied raping the girl but acknowledged forcing her to kiss him, an Okinawa police spokesman has said.

Japan is host to about 50,000 US. military personnel as part of the bilateral security alliance, but friction often occurs with communities near the bases because of concern about crime, accidents and noise.

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