Japan decries alleged rape by US troops on Okinawa

TOKYO (AP) - Japan's defense minister said on Wednesday he was deeply concerned by the alleged rape of a woman on the island of Okinawa by two U.S. military servicemen and suggested the U.S. take more measures to assure such crimes do not recur.

"This is a very serious crime," Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto told reporters. Morimoto said the case follows another sexual assault in August, and he indicated he was considering discussing the matter with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Okinawan police arrested the two U.S. sailors on Tuesday. They were identified as Seaman Christopher Browning and Petty Officer 3rd Class Skyler Dozierwalker of the Fort Worth Naval Air Base in Texas. Both are 23. According to Japanese media reports, they had been drinking before they attacked the woman, in her 20s, who was on her way home before dawn Tuesday.

The two were in Japanese police custody, according to Okinawa Prefectural Police spokesman Takashi Shirado.