TOKYO, Feb. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Several thousands of residents in Kanoya, Japan's southern prefecture of Kagoshima, protested on Sunday against a possible military transfer plan, under which a U.S. air tanker fleet may move to the city, Kyodo News reported.

    Under the U.S. military realignment plan, the air tanker fleet from the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa may transfer to a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) base in Kanoya.

    Noise from the MSDF base, which is in the center of the city, has already reached "an intolerable level," Kyodo quoted Kanoya Mayor, Sakae Yamashita as saying.

    Organizers estimated around 8,200 people joined the protest held in an athletic field. A resolution was adopted which called on the Japanese government to urge the United States to review the realignment plan.

    The resolution said, "Military-related incidents" may increase and threaten safety of residents. Local livestock industry might also be affected by noise, it said.

    There are 50,000 U.S. troops based in Japan, of whom over 14,000 are Marines. In Okinawa, where almost all the Marines are located, residents have long complained of crime, safety, and environmental concerns related with the U.S. military bases.

    In an interim report released last October, Tokyo and Washington said the United States would downsize the U.S. military presence in Okinawa. Enditem