¡¡LONDON, Jan. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- A poll published Friday by the left-wing Daily
Mirror newspaper shows 84 percent of Britons oppose unilateral military action
against Iraq and 43 percent are againstit under any circumstances.
¡¡¡¡The poll conducted by pollsters ICM, which interviewed a random sample of
1,004 adults aged 18 and above by phone on Tuesday and Wednesday, shows 41
percent of respondents would back a war with Iraq only if it is sanctioned by
the United Nations.
¡¡¡¡According to the survey, about 73 percent of those questioned said British
involvement in a possible US-led military strike on Iraq would make a reprisal
terror attack on the country more likely.
¡¡¡¡About 66 percent of the interviewed said British Prime MinisterTony Blair
cared more about supporting US President George W. Bushthan about British public
opinion.
¡¡¡¡According to the newspaper, British public opposition to war has grown since
chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix delivered his inspection progress
report to the UN Security Council on Monday.
¡¡¡¡Britain, the staunchest ally of the United States in its bid to disarm Iraq
by force if necessary, has committed about 34,000 troops to a possible war on
Iraq.
¡¡¡¡Blair and Bush's tough line on Iraq has been criticized in Europe and
elsewhere, with France and Germany clearly expressing their objection to a war
with Iraq without further UN approval.
¡¡¡¡Reports said Blair, with confidence that a second UN resolutioncould be
secured and that European opinion would rally to tough action as long as Bush
showed restraint, was expected to urge the US leader to stick to the UN route to
disarm Iraq during their summit at Camp David, on Friday. Enditem