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                               AP  o  Reuters

   British Cool on Using UK Troops in Iraq - Poll
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   March 9, 2002 7:20 pm EST

   LONDON (Reuters) - Any move to use British troops to support U.S.-lead
   military action against Iraq's Saddam Hussein would meet stiff public
   opposition, a poll said on Sunday.

   The survey for the Mail on Sunday found that 27 percent of Britons
   would strongly oppose the use of troops in those circumstances,
   against only 17 percent who strongly supported the idea.

   The poll carried out by YouGov among more than 2,000 people also found
   large sections of the British public suspicious of America's
   international agenda.

   Asked if in general they trusted the United States to be the "world's
   policeman," only four percent said they trusted the U.S. a lot and 24
   percent a fair amount. One-third said they trusted Washington only a
   little, while 38 percent said they trusted the U.S. not at all.

   The Observer reported on Sunday that the United States had asked
   Britain to draw up plans for 25,000 troops to join a task force to
   overthrow Saddam Hussein. U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney is expected
   in London on Monday for discussions with Blair.

   The government said no such request had been made. "No decisions have
   been taken let alone any requests made," said a spokesman for the
   Prime Minister's office when asked to comment on the report.

   "We stand side by side with the Americans and we're in this for the
   long haul," a Ministry of Defense spokesman said.

   On Saturday a senior government minister denied suggestions that Blair
   would face resignations at all levels within his government if Britain
   joined the United States in taking action against Iraq.

   Articles From Reuters