U.S. says airman must be indicted before handover

Japanese protesters turn out over allegations a U.S. airman raped a Japanese woman.

By Chris Plante
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Pentagon officials told CNN Tuesday the United States will not hand over to Japanese authorities an Air Force staff sergeant accused of raping a Japanese woman unless he is formally indicted and assured of certain rights.

Okinawa-based Air Force Staff Sgt. Timothy Woodland, 24, denies allegations he raped the woman about 2 a.m. Friday in a parking lot after a night of heavy drinking.

Okinawa police Monday obtained an arrest warrant for Woodland, who was brought into police headquarters on Tuesday for a fifth day of questioning.

Former Sen. Howard H. Baker, the new U.S. ambassador to Japan, arrived in Japan on Tuesday and repeated U.S. President George W. Bush's regrets over the incident.

"President Bush said that we express our regret, our sincere regret," Baker said.

MESSAGE BOARD Okinawa rape case

U.S. military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told CNN that Woodland claimed intimate contact between himself and the woman was consensual. Okinawa police have said a witness told them several men surrounded the woman and sexually assaulted her.

Pentagon officials said they want guarantees from Japan that Woodland will be afforded legal counsel, translation services, access to U.S. Embassy officials and other measures before they would agree to transfer him to Japanese custody.

Those requests have not yet been granted, leading to the U.S. decision not to hand over Woodland, the officials said.

The U.S. military presence on Okinawa has long been a source of tension.

"We want to make sure those things are accommodated," a senior Pentagon official said.

U.S. officials have expressed regret over the incident and vowed to cooperate fully with Japanese investigators. It had been widely reported in the Japanese media that Woodland would be handed over to Japanese custody on Tuesday.

Woodland remains "in U.S. custody on the base" pending resolution of the situation, U.S. officials told CNN.

The incident has drawn some protesters to the Kadena Air Base where Woodland is stationed. The protesters expressed outrage at the latest alleged assault, renewing demands for the withdrawal of all U.S. bases from Okinawa.

Crimes committed by U.S. soldiers against local Japanese in recent years have led to similar protests as well as demands by local politicians for the withdrawal or reduction of U.S. troops.

Okinawa is home to about 26,000 U.S. troops, or more than half the entire number stationed in Japan. Slightly more than 25 percent of the U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region is based in Japan.