Poll: 62% of Russians call US-led operation in Iraq 'criminal'

62% of Russians say the US-led operation in Iraq is a crime against the people of Iraq, according to a recent VTsIOM survey.

23% agreed with the necessity to topple the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, but said the methods used were inadequate. 4% agreed with the US position on Iraq in the conflict. LDPR supporters least often accused the US of violations against Iraq.

69% of Russians said the goals of the US-led operation in Iraq have not been reached. Only 21% said the US coalition would have total victory, down from 45% last March. 69% of respondents said the US and its allies would not have an unconditional victory in Iraq, up from 34% last March.

In the survey last March, 52% said the US was in Iraq mainly to control world oil prices. 29% of respondents said the US coalition was defending democratic values. Only 12% said the US was fighting international terrorism. 10% said the US was searching for weapons of mass destruction. 1,587 people were surveyed from 100 population centers in 39 regions on February 21-22.