Leftists behind attacks on US base in Japan: Police

Tokyo, Feb 17: An ultra-leftist group opposed to the conflict in Iraq has claimed responsibility for attacks on a US military base near Tokyo this week, police said today.

Two projectiles were fired near the US Army's Camp Zama base, about 40 km southwest of Tokyo, late on Monday. There were no injuries and no damage.

The Kakumeigun, or Revolutionary Army, group claimed responsibility for the incident, a police spokesman said.

The attacks were aimed at disrupting the realignment of US forces in Japan as well as the planned three-day visit to Japan by US Vice President Dick Cheney from Tuesday, the group said in a statement, according to the police spokesman.

Police said they believed the small and little-known group belonged to the Revolutionary Workers' Council (Kakuryokyo), which was blamed for a string of high-profile projectile and arson attacks in the 1990s.

Such groups have targeted US military installations in Japan in the past and the Iraq conflict has prompted police to step up security at such facilities.

The United States has 50,000 troops stationed in Japan under the US-Japan security alliance. Residents have complained in the past about crime, noise and pollution associated with the bases, but the public generally supports the alliance.

Japan sent about 550 non-combat troops to southern Iraq.

That mission ended last July, but about 200 air force personnel remain in Kuwait to transport supplies to the US-led coalition.

Reuters