Iraqis voice skepticism on US role

WASHINGTON -- More than half of Baghdad's residents said they did not believe the United States would allow the Iraqi people to fashion their political future without the direct influence of Washington, according to a Gallup poll.

With the Bush administration holding consultations on the future of the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, recent analyses of the poll data, which were gathered three months ago, highlight the roots within Baghdad's populace of many of the concerns the US-led coalition now faces.

Only 5 percent of those polled said they believed the United States invaded Iraq "to assist the Iraqi people," and only 1 percent believed it was to establish democracy there.

-- WASHINGTON POST