Polls Show Divide in Europe Over Iraq
By JANE WARDELL 01/31/2003 14:38:19 EST
A global survey published Friday found that on average just over half the European public is opposed to war with Iraq, compared with less than a quarter of Americans.
In surveys covering 39 countries, an average of 50 percent of people polled in 10 of the European member states said there were "no circumstances" under which they favored military action. An average of 54 percent of people polled in 11 other European countries agreed.
The survey was conducted between Jan. 15 and 25 by members of Gallup International, an association of independent polling organizations.
People were asked if they favored military action against Iraq and offered four answers: under no circumstances; only if sanctioned by the United Nations; unilaterally by the U.S. and its allies; don't know/no answer.
In the United States, 21 percent of respondents said no to war under any circumstances, 34 percent said they favored military action with U.N. sanction and 33 percent agreed with unilateral action.
In Britain, Bush's strongest ally in the campaign against Iraq, 41 percent said no under any circumstances, 39 percent would support U.N.-sanctioned action and only 10 percent agreed with unilateral action.
In France, Germany and Russia, whose leaders have opposed unilateral action by the United States and Britain, a majority of respondents said no under any circumstances - 59 percent in Russia, 60 percent in France and 50 percent in Germany.
There was some support for U.N.-sanctioned intervention - 23 percent in Russia, 27 percent in France and 39 percent in Germany. Backing for unilateral action was low - 7 percent in Russia and France and 9 percent in Germany.
Polls in France, Russia and Britain involved samples of 1,000 or more, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. The German survey had 500 respondents, with a margin of error of 4.5 points.
The survey also polled countries in Africa, South America and elsewhere.
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