Protest against US base relocation plan in Japan

Thousands of people rallied in Japan's southern Okinawa Prefecture against a plan to construct a US base in a coastal area.
Japan's government plans to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station from a densely populated area to a coastal area in Nago City. Preparations are now underway for an offshore drilling survey. It is part of a plan to reclaim land for the new base.
Protesters have been demonstrating outside the gate of US Camp Schwab, which is adjacent to the planned relocation site.
Members of the Diet and the prefectural assembly organized Sunday's massive rally. They say more than 3,000 people took part.
Nago City Mayor Susumu Inamine called on the people of Okinawa to unite against the central government, which he said is forcing through the construction project.
Protesters demanded the suspension of the offshore work.