Japan is criticizing the U.S. military for breaking a pledge to avoid flying helicopters over a school next to its base in Okinawa. Tokyo's rebuke is a rare flash of discord with its main ally. Japan's Minister of Defense urged America to prevent any more fly-bys.  

ITSUNORI ONODERA JAPANESE DEFENSE MINISTER "I think the elementary school children, their guardians, and their teachers, would be seriously concerned considering how the helicopters flew over the school, with the belly of the helicopters so visible from the ground. We believe this is something that should never happen, so we'll continue to ask the U.S. that such flights never take place again."

Onodera said his ministry had clear evidence of Thursday's overflight, including radar data and video. The Marines insisted their helicopters had avoided the school. The building sits next to the Futenma base on the southern island of Okinawa. It became a focal point for discontent over the US military presence on the island when a window fell from a helicopter onto its playground last month. A string of recent aircraft incidents has spurred renewed calls for the Americans to close some or all of their bases.