CHATAN, Japan \— Several thousand Okinawans angry over recent reports of crimes allegedly committed by U.S. troops held a loud but peaceful protest today, with many demanding the troops be withdrawn from the island altogether.

The protest was followed by a march to the gate of a nearby U.S. Marine base. No incidents or arrests were reported.

The demonstration was sparked by recent reports of U.S. troop-related crime, including the arrest of a Marine for allegedly assaulting a 14-year-old Okinawan girl in February. The Marine was later released from Japanese custody and no charges were filed.

"The voice of Okinawa is angry," said protest organizer Tetsuei Tamayose. "We need a fundamental change."

Banners demanding the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Okinawa ringed the makeshift stage of the protest, held outside a baseball stadium.

Okinawa, a major outpost for the United States in the Pacific, is home to roughly half of the 50,000 U.S. troops stationed throughout Japan.

The troops provide a major economic boost to the island, which is one of Japan's poorest regions, but problems with base-related accidents, crowding and crime are endemic.

The rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen in 1995 created a huge outcry and led to plans for the redeployment of 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to the U.S. territory of Guam.

The latest allegations have not sparked as much outrage, and organizers of Sunday's rally said a strong rain contributed to a relatively limited turnout, which fell short of the 10,000 people they had hoped for.

The U.S. military has reacted strongly to enforce discipline by restricting troops to bases, work sites or off-base housing and ordered a review of education guidelines to prevent sexual assault. It announced it will soon court martial four Marines accused of raping a 19-year-old woman in October.