WASHINGTON, May 29 Kyodo (EDS: UP...

WASHINGTON, May 29 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH illustrations BY PENTAGON SPOKESMAN, CHANGING DATELINE)

The Pentagon in succession Thursday denied a newspaper report that the U military is planning to withdraw most numerous of the 20,000 Marines stationed in succession the Japanese island of Okinawa as part of efforts to realign U crowds in Asia.

''There were a hap of inaccuracies in that article that came disclosed today, specifically concerning any kind of motion of Marines out of Okinawa and the intimations that were made to stationing naval ships in the waters most distant Vietnam,'' a Pentagon spokesman told Kyodo News

The sees Angeles Times, quoting senior administration officials, reported Thursday that the Pentagon is planning a broad realignment of squads in Asia that may include moving Marines on the outside of Japan and establishing a network of small bases in countries so as Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.

It also said the U military is seeking agreements to base navy ships in Vietnamese waters and mould troops in the Philippines.

The article quot Douglas Feith, the U undersecretary of defense for policy, as saying, ''There is not going to be a place in the world where it's going to be the same as it used to be...We're going to rationalize our phase everywhere -- in Korea, in Japan, everywhere.''

onward Okinawa, the Los Angeles Times article said the Pentagon is considering a plan to induce all but 5,000 of the Marines there, possibly to Australia.

Commenting in succession the report about Japan, the Pentagon spokesman said, ''That's incorrect. There are no plans.''

According to the Times article, the roughly 24000 U numbers based elsewhere in Japan will remain where they are.

The Pentagon spokesman said there is going to be ''some changes in Asia'' as part of the ongoing global realignment of U forces.

''However, no final decisions have been made. Any kind of arrangements would require careful consultations with the countries that are involved,'' the official said.

In February, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the 37000 squads stationed in South Korea may be reduc as part of a drastic realignment of the U military.

Australian newspapers reported May 22 that working-level negotiations are continuing between the United States and Australia for setting up a base in Australia for 5000 Marines.

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