
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 29, 1995                   TAG: 9509290090
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: TOKYO                                LENGTH: Short

JAPAN CHARGES U.S. SOLDIERS

Three U.S. servicemen were charged today with abducting and raping a 12-year-old girl, clearing the way for their delivery to Japanese authorities as protesters nationwide have vehemently demanded.

The rape has caused a major uproar on Okinawa, one of the United States' most important military outposts in the Pacific, and generated a nationwide debate over whether Japan should revise the terms under which 45,000 U.S. troops are stationed in this country.

Charged Friday were Marine Pfc. Rodrico Harp, 21, of Griffin, Ga.; \Pfc. Kendrick M. Ledet, 20, of Waycross, Ga.; and Navy Seaman Marcus D. Gill, 22, of Woodville, Texas.

The charges were filed this morning at Naha District Court, court spokesman Hidekatsu Shinjo said. Marine spokesmen had no immediate comment but have promised to cooperate fully with the Japanese authorities.

- Associated Press

by CNB