US, Bush losing world146;s trust: poll

Distrust of the United States has intensified across the world, but overall views of America remain very or somewhat favorable among majorities in 25 of 46 countries

Distrust of the United States has intensified across the world, but overall views of America remain very or somewhat favorable among majorities in 25 of 46 countries and the Palestinian territories surveyed in an international poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, in results reported on Wednesday.

8220;Anti-Americanism since 2002 has deepened, but it hasn8217;t really widened,8221; said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Global Attitudes Project. 8220;It has worsened among America8217;s European allies and is very, very bad in the Muslim world. But there is still a favorable view of the US in many African countries, as well as in 8216;New Europe8217; and the Far East.8221;

Nonetheless, majorities in many countries reject the main planks of current US foreign policy and express distaste for American-style democracy, the survey found. Respondents worldwide not only want the US to pull its troops out of Iraq 8220;as soon as possible,8221; but also seek a rapid end to the American and NATO military intervention in Afghanistan, now in its sixth year.

The poll found growing wariness toward other major powers as well. Concerns over China8217;s economic and military might have tarnished its image in many nations, the poll found, and confidence in President Vladimir V Putin of Russia has dropped sharply.

The survey was conducted in April and May in 46 countries and the Palestinian territories in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, and includes more than 45,000 respondents.

It found that concern about global warming has increased dramatically in the last five years. Most respondents in the global survey agree that the environment is in trouble and most blame the US and, to a much more limited degree, China, according to the survey.

Negative views of Iran have intensified, including in some Muslim countries, the survey found, and respondents in almost all countries surveyed expressed overwhelming opposition to acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iran.