THE JAPANESE government yes- terday overturned a move by Okinawa's governor to stop work on a US base relocation site, marking the latest fightin along-runningbat tle over the controversial project The Land Ministry's decision will enable the Defence Ministry to resume work on a new basein north ern Okinawa. The facility could take over the functions of US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which is sur rounded by residential areas in the central part of the island The proposal to move the itary Futenma air base, first mooted in 1996, has become the focus of anger among locals, who insist it should be shut and a replacement built else- where in Japan or overseas Earlier this month, outspoken Okinawa governor Takeshi Onaga revoked approval for work on the base in Japan's southernmost island chain "We have decided to nullify [Okinawa's] cancellation of the approval," land and infrastructure minister Keiichi Ishii Saidafteracab- net meeting on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said One's decision to halt the project was without merit. "The government has made the best decision it could to remove the danger associated with Futenma air base and to bring about its closure