With attacks increasing in Iraq and terrorists striking elsewhere in the region, a solid majority of Americans now say they do not think the war that topped Saddam Hussein has reduced the threat of terrorism, a poll says.

US soldier's rifle lies on a portrait of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.  [AFP]

Seven in 10 felt that way, according to the survey released Wednesday by the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland. Other organizations' polling from last spring found about half with that opinion.

"It's becoming harder for the public to see how this is helping," said Steven Kull, who directed the survey. "They are seeing terrorist attacks in Iraq, the situation in Afghanistan isn't getting better."

Kull said his research has found that "there's a perception that in the world as a whole and in the Arab world there's a growing negative feeling toward the U.S."

The poll found strong support, 71 percent, for the United Nations' taking the lead to help establish a stable government in Iraq. That compares with half the respondents in April.

"We're seeing growing impatience with the operation in Iraq, leading to greater support for putting the operation under the control of the United Nations," said Kull, program director.

The public's belief that there is evidence that the deposed Iraqi leader was working with Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida terrorist organization is gradually diminishing. More than half in June thought there was evidence of a link, while that has dropped to 43 percent now.

More than half in the poll, 56 percent, say they do not think the war in Iraq will result in greater peace and stability in the Middle East. In April, about the same number said they thought the Iraq efforts would leader to greater peace and stability in that region.

U.S. President Bush and administration officials frequently say the efforts in Iraq are central to winning the fight against terrorism. Attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq have been sharply increasing throughout the fall and terrorists have struck targets in Turkey and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.

Despite apparent uneasiness with the U.S. military presence in Iraq, two-thirds said they do not think American troops should withdraw until there is a stable government. That is a drop of 14 percentage points from April, however.

That Iraqi government would not have to be friendly to the United States, in their view. Four in five respondents agreed that Iraqis should be able to choose their own government, even if that government is unfriendly to the United States.

The poll of 712 people was conducted by Knowledge Networks from Nov. 21-30 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

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