TOKYO , Feb 18 , SPA --Japan protested a new string of allegedcrimes by U.S. troops and criticized American militarydiscipline Monday, as indignation mounted over the arrestlast week of a Marine on suspicion of raping a 14-year-oldgirl, AP reported Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka called U.S. Ambassador Thomas Schieffer to complain about the latestincidents, which in addition to the alleged rape includedallegations of drunken driving, trespassing and theft byAmerican servicemen, the ministry said. «We had to protest strongly because it was justridiculous that these alleged crimes were committed just aswe were discussing the very problem,» ministry officialRyo Fukabori said. The government's top spokesman, Chief Cabinet SecretaryNobutaka Machimura, also accused American servicemen ofcontinuing their alleged carousing despite accusations oflax discipline. Machimura suggested Tokyo expects further expressions ofAmerican regret over the behavior when U.S. Secretary ofState Condoleezza Rice visits Japan next week. «They must be slacking off,» Machimura said of the U.S. troops. «Secretary of State Rice is visiting Japan nextweek. We must urge the U.S. government to reflect seriouslyon what has happened.» The arrest last week of Staff Sgt. Tyrone Luther Hadnott,38, a Marine from Camp Courtney in Okinawa, in the allegedrape of a young girl has raised tensions over crimescommitted by U.S. troops. Hadnott admitted to investigators that he forced the girldown and kissed her, but said he did not rape her, policesaid.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/528109