UNITED NATIONS, Sept 26 (Reuter) - Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono on Tuesday pressed the United States to take specific steps to deter crimes by American soldiers overseas, such as the rape of a young girl on Okinawa, a senior U.S. official said.

In the highest level direct meeting between the two governments on this bilateral nightmare, Secretary of State Warren Christopher renewed U.S. apologies for the tragedy and promised Washington would cooperate fully with Tokyo because "justice had to be done," State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns told reporters.

Christopher also proposed that the issue, which took about one-third of the talks, be discussed further on Wednesday when he and Kono meet jointly with their countries' defence chiefs, Burns said.

Authorities have said the 12-year-old girl was raped on her way home from shopping in a premeditated attack by three U.S. servicemen.

It has spurred calls for the closure of U.S. military bases on Okinawa and huge anti-American protests.

The outpouring of bad feeling comes at a delicate time in U.S.-Japan relations and could affect President Bill Clinton's planned summit in Tokyo in November, although Burns said there has been no talk of cancelling the trip.

Kono "did raise the issue of Okinawa at great length, with great seriousness...(telling Christopher the incident) had a very deep affect on Japanese people, particularly in Okinawa," the spokesman said.

Christopher responded that Japan had "many tragdies this year (including gas attacks in Tokyo and an earthquake) and he offered the deep apologies of the United States for the conduct of American soldiers," Burns said.

Kono said he hoped the United States "could take action to make sure this kind of incident would not be repeated," but did not call for a wholesale review of the status of forces agreement that governs the U.S. military presence in Japan, Burns said.

Christopher reiterated U.S. willingness to work with Japan in examining the agreement and finding ways it can be implemented better to meet Japan's legitimate concerns, the spokesman added.

"You just have to ponder the sickness of people who could commit such terrible terrible acts," Christopher was quoted as telling Kono.

The two ministers discussed plans for the U.S.-Japan summit and for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting set for Osaka, also in November.

Christopher urged Japan to pledge funds for helping to rebuild Bosnia if a peace agreement is reached.

--REUTER

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