Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine on Monday rejected a US-Japanese plan on the relocation of a US air base in the prefecture.

The two countries agreed Saturday on a series of issues concerning the future of their decades-old alliance.

According to the interim report, the United States will remove its Futemma base in Ginowan, central Okinawa Island, to Nago, in the northern part of the island.

Inamine described the relocation as "totally unacceptable," Kyodo News reported.

The governor said the plan would not lead to an early return of the air base, according to the report.

Residents and the government of the southern prefecture have been demanding for easing their burden of hosting the bulk of US forces in Japan since the end of World War II.

The United States promised in a 1996 accord to return the base to Japan within five to seven years, provided the heliport will be located within the island.

The handover, however, has failed to meet the schedule because the residents want a complete pullout of the US military.

Defense Facilities Administration Agency Director General Iwao Kitahara was visiting the prefecture to brief Inamine on the plan and seeking the understanding of the Okinawa leaders.

The interim report reached by Japanese and US foreign and defense ministers in Washington also aims to cut about 7,000 US troops stationed in the island and set up a new US headquarters in Japan to wield the command over all US forces there.

Source: Xinhua