The poll was conducted by the Herald, an English-language monthly published in Karachi, in collaboration with Gallup Pakistan, an independent group which carries out periodical opinion surveys in the country on international and national issues.

The survey said 85 percent of those interviewed wanted Saddam to remain, and that 89 percent supported the boycot of American goods. "It may not translate into action but certainly reflects an attitude," said Dr Ijaz Shafi Gilani, head of the Gallup.

"At an emotional level, it is pain and anger more than activisim which describes the mood of the Pakistani public...with 69 percent expressing their hostility in a desire to hurt US interest."

Not a single person among those interviewed supported US military action in Iraq which began on March 20.

Around 61 percent of the respondents favoured the dissolution of United Nations for its failure to prevent the war.

The magazine, which published the poll in its April issue, said 1,300 male and female respondents drawn from rural and urban areas in all four provinces of the country were interviewed face to face between March 23 and 24.

SPACE.WIRE