Deal reached on U.S. base worker status in Japan

The Japanese and U.S. governments have agreed to narrow the extent to which American citizens can be granted preferential treatment under the bilateral pact that governs jurisdiction over U.S. military personnel and base workers, according to a draft agreement obtained Monday.

The move comes amid heightened calls by Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of the U.S. military bases in Japan, to revise the 1960 pact following the recent arrest of a U.S. civilian base worker in connection with the slaying of a local woman.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Lt. Gen. John Dolan, commander of the U.S. military in Japan, are expected to announce the deal at a news conference Tuesday, a Japanese government source said.