Okinawa anti-US base faction appears close to retaining majority in prefectural assembly

NAHA, Okinawa Pref.: Okinawa's anti-base faction appeared close to retaining its majority in the prefectural assembly Sunday evening.

Unofficial tallies by Kyodo News indicated that candidates who ran in opposition to relocating the US Marine base at Futenma, in central Okinawa, to the northern part of the main island had won 21 seats, four short of a majority in the 48-seat chamber. The final result is expected late Sunday or early Monday morning.