A government panel tasked with helping resolve the dispute between the Okinawa and central governments over the relocation of a U.S. air base has refrained from taking sides and instead called on the parties to hold "sincere discussions."

In a decision announced Friday, the panel did not rule on the legality of the government's order to "correct" Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga's revocation of approval for landfill works to build the new base.

The approval was granted by Onaga's predecessor and revoked by Onaga in October.