Saudis 8216;deeply dislike8217; bin Laden and al-Qaeda

President George W Bush is viewed positively by 12 per cent of Saudis, less than half the number with a good impression of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Forty per cent have favorable opinions of the US 8211; a lower rating than they gave China, Iran and all four other countries tested. By 44 per cent to 36 per cent, most favoured limiting Saudi oil exports to the US because of Washington8217;s policies.

The poll also found 15 per cent agreed with a Saudi court8217;s sentencing of a young woman to 200 lashes and six months in prison after she was gang raped. In the survey, taken before King Abdullah pardoned her, 38 per cent opposed the sentence while the rest gave no opinion. She had been convicted of violating strict Islamic prohibitions against socialising between genders because she was with a male acquaintance before the attack.

The poll was conducted for Terror Free Tomorrow, a bipartisan group whose goal is undermining worldwide support for terrorism. Its advisory board includes Sen. John McCain, a Republican presidential candidate, and former Rep. Lee Hamilton, a Democrat.