A high-ranking government official confirmed for the first time in public Saturday that Japanese ground troops will be pulled out of southern Iraq within the next several months.

The announcement came from Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kyoji Yanagisawa.

Sources have said the government decided to withdraw the Ground Self-Defense Force by the end of May alongside pullouts from the area by British and Australian forces.

In a speech in Tokyo, Yanagisawa said finding "the exit from Iraq is this year's biggest theme. At any rate, the GSDF will withdraw within several months."

On Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said the government will decide the GSDF's future in the city of Samawah in view of the current situation there, including plans for the British and Australian forces and the advancement of the peace process, without mentioning any specific time schedule for the troops' pullout.

Yanagisawa, who has worked in the Defense Agency, also said Japan should have a permanent law enabling the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces for overseas missions.

"Japan contributed $1.3 billion at the time of the Persian Gulf War. But it was called 'checkbook' diplomacy and Japan did not receive any recognition" for its contributions, he said.

The roughly 600 troops stationed in Samawah to help in reconstruction will begin packing up in mid-March, according to sources.