TOKYO — The U.S. government has told Japan that it will allow the relocation of about 8,000 Marines — 1,000 more than originally proposed — stationed in Okinawa Prefecture, Japanese government sources said Saturday.

The two governments have also entered the final phase of negotiations over the return of four U.S. bases in the central and southern parts of the prefecture. The latest plan envisages the full return of three bases and the partial return of the fourth.

The size of the reduction in the number of Marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture was increased after the United States reassessed its personnel needs. The prefecture is the major focus of the realignment of U.S. forces stationed in Japan.

The two governments likely will include the new decisions in their final report to be released in late March.

The U.S. military will return to Japanese control Naha Military Port, Makiminato Service Area in Urasoe, and Camp Kuwae in Chatancho, and turn over part of Camp Zukeran located in Ginowan and other three locations.

In October, the two governments released an interim report that said 7,000 Marines would be moved out of the prefecture.

But the U.S. Marine Corps later said an additional 1,000 Marines could be relocated.

Most of the Marines, along with about 9,000 dependents, will move to Guam. Currently up to 18,000 Marines can be stationed in Okinawa Prefecture under a bilateral agreement.

"If the 8,000 cut comes about, it will greatly reduce the burden Okinawa Prefecture has to bear," a senior government official said.

Among the personnel to be moved out of the prefecture are command center officers of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force and the 3rd Marine Division in Camp Courtney at Uruma, those of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Camp Zukeran, and Marines from attached logistics units.

The United States has expressed its intention to return the bases in tandem with the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to coastal areas of Camp Schwab in Nago. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Hansen in Kincho and other major combat units will remain in the prefecture.

The government aims to reach a basic agreement at a high-level meeting in early March.

At the practical level, the two governments have been negotiating:

Moving the functions of Naha Military Port to an alternative facility in Urasoe.

Moving the functions of Makiminato Service Area to Camp Hansen.

The return of land accommodating Camp Zukeran's headquarters, though — some housing for U.S. forces would be allowed to remain.

The integration of housing at Camp Kuwae into that at Camp Zukeran.

The U.S. government has shown an estimate of the costs of relocating to Guam at $7.6 billion, about 60 percent of which is to pay for housing-related payment.

But at a meeting last Tuesday, the U.S. government added the costs of facilities used by the Self-Defense Forces during joint military drills.