US Marine in Japan Rape Case Released

TOKYO (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine arrested earlier this month on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl was released by the Japanese authorities on Friday, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Okinawa, southern Japan, said. The 38-year-old Marine, Tyrone Hadnott, was released because prosecutors decided not to press charges as the girl had dropped the accusation against him, Kyodo news agency reported.The arrest had caused outrage in Japan and revived bitter memories of the rape of a 12-year-old schoolgirl on the island in 1995, which sparked huge protests against U.S. bases there and raised doubts about the bilateral security alliance.http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/news-japan-okinawa.html?hp