Japan will pull its troops from Iraq "within several months", a Japanese official was quoted as saying on Saturday, marking the first time a government figure has publicly referred to an early withdrawal.

"The exit from Iraq is this year's biggest theme," Kyodo news agency quoted Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kyoji Yanagisawa as saying in a speech in Tokyo. "At any rate, the GSDF will withdraw within several months," he said, referring to the Ground Self Defence Force, Japan's army.

However, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said nothing had been decided on when troops would be withdrawn.

Media reports last month quoted government sources as saying Japan would begin withdrawing its 550 non-combat troops from southern Iraq in March when British and Australian troops are also withdrawn from the area, completing the pullout by May.

The government decided late last year to keep the troops in Japan for up to a year from December 14, but officials left open the possibility they would be withdrawn sooner.

The dispatch of the troops on a reconstruction mission to a relatively quiet Samawa region of southern Iraq won friends for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Washington, but the decision was unpopular with most Japanese.

Government sources quoted by media previously said a basic agreement on the pullout was reached at a secret meeting between officials from Japan, Britain and Australia last month in London.

Britain and Australia also have troops stationed in the Samawa region. Since Japanese troops are limited to non-combat roles by Japan's pacifist constitution, they rely on Australian and British troops for protection.

(Chinadaily.com via agencies February 5, 2006)