US holds murder-suspect sailor amid unease over military bases

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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10362728

The United States Navy has confirmed it is holding one of its sailors suspected of involvement in the death of a Japanese woman, a case police are investigating as a murder, and has ordered a "period of reflection" for all its personnel.

Japanese media reported on Thursday that a United States sailor had confessed to killing Yoshie Sato, 56, on January 3 in Yokosuka City, where the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier is based, and that the sailor had been taken into custody by United States naval authorities.

Commander John Wallach, director of public affairs for the US Naval Forces Japan, said he could not confirm or deny the reports that the sailor had admitted killing Sato, who was found bleeding and unconscious near a building in Yokosuka.

She died from internal injuries, Japanese police said.

The incident comes at a delicate time as Tokyo and Washington seek agreement from Japanese communities for plans to reorganise United States bases as part of Washington's global effort to transform its military into a more flexible force.