The top civilian in the US Army on Thursday retracted comments he made about suspending the enforcement of the ban on gay soldiers in the military, saying his remarks were "incorrect."

Army Secretary John McHugh was forced to issue the statement a day after he suggested a de facto moratorium was in force on further discharges of openly gay troops, and that he would not dismiss soldiers who had told him they were homosexual.

Although President Barack Obama has called for the repeal of the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law that bars gays from serving openly in the military, McHugh said "it is and remains the law of the land."

"I was incorrect when I stated that (Defense) Secretary (Robert) Gates had placed a moratorium on discharges of homosexual service-members. There is no moratorium of the law and neither Secretary Gates nor I would support one," he said.

He said measures announced last week by Gates that make it more difficult to expel gay troops under the existing law did not "in any way create a moratorium."

The 1993 law requires gays to keep quiet about their sexual orientation or face expulsion from the military.

McHugh, a former Republican lawmaker, said on Wednesday that a few soldiers who revealed their homosexuality to him in conversations would not be dismissed, as the revelations came in the course of discussions designed to gauge the views of troops.

But in his statement Thursday, McHugh said that was not the case.

"I might better have counseled them that statements about their sexual orientation could not be treated as confidential and could result in their separation under the law," he said.

However, he suggested the gay soldiers who spoke to him would not be expelled.

"Because of the informal and random manner in which these engagements occurred, I am unable to identify these soldiers and I am not in a position to formally pursue the matter," he said.

A Pentagon team appointed by Gates to review the effect of lifting the ban will arrange a way for all service members -- including gay troops -- to express their views on the issue, his statement said.

"The working group is likely to utilize a third party from outside of the department to solicit these views so soldiers can speak candidly and without fear of separation," he said.

"I urge every soldier to share his or her views and suggestions on this important issue through this channel."