Over 10,000 local residents rallied on Saturday in protesting against the deployment of a nuclear-powered U.S. warship at the U.S. navy base near Tokyo.

The protesters called for the Japanese government to stop the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in Yokosuka, 45 km southwest of Tokyo.

The aircraft carrier was originally scheduled to be deployed to Yokosuka in August, but following a fire on the ship in May, its arrival may be delayed. It would be the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be stationed in Japan.

Local people are very concerned about the safety of the USS George Washington after the fire.

At present some 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan under the U.S.-Japan security alliance.

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2008)