Low expectations for Iraq transfer

A recent BBC e-survey has revealed low expectations and high cynicism surrounding the transfer of power to an interim government in Iraq.

The handover of power, brought forward by two days, was hailed by US President George W Bush as a "proud moral achievement by members of our coalition."

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E-survey results

But the BBC e-survey, completed by more that 34,000 people worldwide, revealed little optimism about the transfer.

Only 23% of respondents believed it would create a legitimate new authority in Iraq, while 65% believed it would make the life of an average citizen worse or no better than today.

"The results for this e-survey suggest that in the battle for world public opinion, the US-led coalition has done a fairly poor job convincing the world its effort in Iraq to form a new healthy democracy are working," said Keith Frederick, of Frederick Polls which analysed the survey.

"A total of 72% of survey participants oppose the coalition's efforts; 28% support it with just 4% having been converted to the position of support since the war started."

However the figures are not as high for participants from Europe - where 61% oppose - and North America, where only 35% oppose the action, with 65% in support of it.

Further, there was a "significant gender gap," Mr Frederick said, with men more supportive than women of coalition efforts by over 10 points.

Middle East support

Interestingly, respondents from the Middle-East were more hopeful of the handover than their European or American counterparts.

Almost 29% of them thought the handover would create a legitimate new authority in Iraq, compared to 23% in Europe and 25% in America.

On whether Iraq was ready for the handover, nearly 41% respondents from Middle-East agreed. In comparison, only 35% of European respondents and 33% of American respondents thought that was the case.

Opinion remained divided over the continued presence of troops in Iraq.

Almost 45% respondents wanted the coalition troops to stay on, while 55% opposed this. Support for the continued presence was again higher in Europe - 52% to 48% - but it was opposed by a majority - 52% - of North American respondents.

There was much less support in other areas of the world, down to 25% in Latin America.

The survey was completed before the current rise in violence in the city of Najaf.

However, respondents in the Middle East and North Africa were actually the most optimistic about the impact of the handover of power, with around half - 49% - saying the life for an ordinary Iraqi would improve.

The BBC e-survey was carried out in English, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Spanish and Russian languages