An opinion poll suggests that more than two-thirds
of Iraqis believe US-led coalition forces should leave the war-torn
country.
According to a poll conducted for British television ahead
of the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, more than two-thirds
of Iraqis believe US-led coalition forces should leave.
The ORB/Channel 4 News survey suggested that 70 percent thought
multinational forces should withdraw, AFP reported.
Overall, the wide-ranging poll painted a mixed picture of
Iraqi attitudes, contrasting their bleak daily existence with
a surprisingly positive attitude about the future.
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It threw up stark statistics on the human cost of war, which
began on March 20, 2003, its effect on infrastructure and
daily life, plus the bloody sectarian violence that erupted
in the aftermath of the invasion.
A quarter of those surveyed said they had lost a family member
to murder. In Baghdad, that figure rose to nearly half (45
percent).
Some 81 percent had suffered power cuts and 43 percent had
experienced drinking water shortages. In the last month, more
than a quarter (28 percent) had been short of food.
ORB and its local partner IIACSS interviewed 4,000 Iraqis
in person between February 24 and March 5.