The Japanese ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided on Tuesday it will not accept any final agreement between the Japanese and U.S. governments on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture without first gaining local consent, Kyodo News reported.

"The party cannot accept any snap decision by the government in finalizing the agreement (with the United States) without approval from local communities," Kyodo quoted Taku Yamasaki, head of a LDP panel as saying at a panel meeting.

Yamasaki, who was dubbed by Japanese media as a professional in defense issues and a close ally of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, has been criticizing the government on its handling of the relocation problem and urging the government to take the consent of Nago, host of the new airfield, as precondition for any agreement.

Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga met for the second time with Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro in Tokyo on Tuesday evening to resume talks to bridge differences over the airfield plan, Kyodo said.

Tokyo and Washington reached an agreement last October on the realignment of U.S. troops in Japan, according to which the Futemma Air Station will be moved from Ginowan to Camp Schwab in Nago.

Okinawa hosts the bulk of the 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan. Local residents have long complained about noise, social problems and crimes associated with the bases.

Source: Xinhua