Some 10,000 people staged a protest Tuesday against US Army exercises using live ammunition in the town of Kin, south Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, Kyodo News reported.

According to Kyodo, the protesters, including Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine, highlighted the danger posed by the exercises at a new combat facility at the US Marine Corps' Camp Hansen, which is only 300 meters away from residential areas.

Marching up to the front gate of Camp Hansen, the demonstrators called on the US Army to stop the exercises and remove the facility, claiming that people living in the vicinity risk the danger of being hit by stray bullets.

"I will do my utmost to have the facility shut down so that residents can enjoy their peace and quiet," Inamine was quoted by Kyodo.

The US Army started the exercises July 12 amid protests by the local residents.

Source: Xinhua