Obama extends 'deepest regrets' over Okinawa murder

US President Barack Obama extended "sincerest condolences and deepest regrets" over the murder of a Japanese woman by a US military-affiliated civilian, here at a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Wednesday.

Responding to a strong statement of protest from the Japanese prime minister, Obama said the murder was a "tragedy" and considered "inexcusable", and pledged to continue to cooperate fully with the investigation to ensure that justice is done under the Japanese justice system, Xinhua news agency reported.

The 20-year-old victim was raped and strangled by a former US Marine in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture last month, whose body was dumped in a forested area.

At the meeting, Abe raised a formal protest over the tragic death, saying that he felt profound resentment for this self-centred and despicable crime. He also urged the US to take effective measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again, according to a press conference after the talk.

The US president is here for the Group of Seven (G7) leaders' summit that is set to kick off Thursday.

--IANS

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