国际英语新闻：New U.S. base plan creates rift in Gov't, PM apologizes to outraged Okinawans

TOKYO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Japan and the United States issued a joint statement on the relocation of a U.S. Marine Corps base in Okinawa Friday, saying that the air base will be moved to the less crowded Henoko coast, Nago City within the southern prefecture, which has caused a rift in Japan's coalition government and left questions unanswered about Okinawa's acceptance of the plan.

Following a telephone conversation between Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama earlier in the day the statement was issued outlining a fresh pact between the two countries that will see the relocation of the U.S. Marines ' Futenma Air Station to the coastal Henoko area in the same prefecture, essentially in line with an existing accord signed in 2006.

The Japanese premier informed reporters in the morning that the U.S. President expressed his "gratitude that an agreement was made in the two-plus-two", referring to a series of bilateral committee meetings held between the two countries' defense and foreign ministers regarding security matters and the specifics of the relocation of the U.S. Marines' Futenma Air Station.

In the joint statement the United States reiterated its unwavering commitment to Japan's security and Japan reconfirmed its commitment to playing a positive role in contributing to the peace and stability of the region.

However speaking at a press conference Friday evening, delayed four hours due to an emergency Cabinet meeting, the prime minister revealed that in the course of approving the relocation plan he had dismissed Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima as the consumer affairs minister from his cabinet.

"It is with great regret that I was unable to convince her ( Mizuho Fukushima) about the plan and had no choice but to dismiss her from the Cabinet," the premier said adding that he would endeavor to maintain the three party coalition and continue to seek the SDP's understanding on the (Futenma) issue.

The dismissal came after Fukushima refused to sign the cabinet resolution on the base relocation issue and according to Japanese defense minister Toshimi Kitazawa it was the only way the process could move forward.