It is unforgivable that the handover has not taken place

Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine

Washington has been considering the Japanese request since an arrest warrant was issued on Monday for Timothy Woodland, a US air force staff sergeant who is accused of raping a 20-year-old local woman.

He denies the allegation and underwent a sixth consecutive day of police questioning on Wednesday.

Timothy Woodland faced more police questions on Wednesday

The US is not obliged to hand over any personnel until formal charges have been brought. But since the rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan schoolgirl by three US servicemen in 1995 they have promised to give requests "sympathetic consideration".

Only one America has been handed over before, in 1996, when a suspect was arrested and later convicted of attempted murder near Nagasaki.

'Deplorable' delay

Okinawa's Governor, Keiichi Inamine, called the situation "extremely deplorable" and warned that antipathy to the US bases on the island was growing.

The incident took place in the American Village shopping centre car park

"I strongly demand... that the suspect be handed over swiftly," he said.

In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Japan had not expected such a delay.

"If it takes much longer we may have to ask for an explanation," he said.

US President George W Bush on Tuesday expressed his "sincere regret" over the incident and the American marine commander on Okinawa, Earl Hailston, has apologised to the authorities on the island.

Car park attack

The woman, who is in her 20s, said she was raped early last Friday morning in a car park in the town of Chatan, near a US military base.

The suspect has denied the charges, but the police say they have fingerprint evidence linking him to the crime.

They also have accounts from witnesses, including some of the suspect's companions.

The sergeant was earlier quoted by a Japanese news agency as telling police: "I had sex with the woman, but it was consensual, and I did not assault or threaten her."

The case has renewed anger over the large American military presence on the island and the number of sexual assault cases involving US servicemen.

Students have mounted several days of protests outside the Kadena air base where Mr Woodland is based.

Chatan councillors are reported to be considering citizen's patrols to safeguard against violence from US servicemen.

Earlier the Chatan assembly approved a request to the US military for a night-time curfew and a ban on alcohol for American servicemen.