The poll indicated that Washington's global image has slipped and support for its so-called war on terrorism has declined even among close allies.

CAIRO — The US invasion-turned-occupation of Iraq is more dangerous to world peace than Iran's nuclear program, according to a new global poll also showing US image slipping worldwide for the second year straight.

A survey of 17,000 people in 15 countries, including the US, showed that people in 12 countries see the US military forces in Iraq as posing a greater threat to world peace and regional stability than Iran, Pew Global Attitudes Project, which conducted did the study, said on its website.

In Europe, Spaniards scored the highest number with 56 percent of those polled saying the US presence in Iraq was more dangerous than Iran.

The numbers were 45 and 36 percent in Russia and France, respectively.

In Britain, Washington's Iraqi war ally, more Britons believe that the US military presence in Iraq represents a great danger to stability in the Middle East and world peace than Iran (by 41%-34%).

Concerns about American threats to world peace were expectedly higher in predominantly Muslim countries.

Sixty percent of Turks saw the US more dangerous to the world compared to 16 for Iran.

The percentage was 58, 56 and 28 in Jordan, Egypt and Pakistan, respectively.

The Bush administration is spearheading an international campaign against Tehran, accusing the country of seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

Iran has repeatedly refuted the American charges, insisting that the sole aim of its nuclear program is to generate electricity.

Losing Hearts

The poll indicated that Washington's global image has slipped and support for its so-called war on terrorism has declined even among close US allies.

"The war in Iraq is a continuing drag on opinions of the United States, not only in predominantly Muslim countries but in Europe and Asia as well," said Pew.

It asserted that favorable opinions of the US have fallen in most of the 15 countries surveyed.

Only about a quarter of the Spanish public (23%) expresses positive views of America, down from 41% last year.

The global poll also showed that Washington's image has declined significantly in India (from 71% to 56%) and Indonesia (from 38% to 30%).

The survey found support for Washington's so-called war on terror only in India and Russia while in other countries it is either flat or has declined.

Even in Spain, hit by a devastating bombing attack two years ago, four times as many people oppose the war on terror as support it (76% vs. 19%).

Bush's leadership

The survey also showed a slump in Bush's leadership ratings among the majority of those polled.

In Britain, only 30 percent expressed confidence in the US president, compared to 37 percent last year and just over half in 2004.

Among Germans, 25 percent were confident in Bush; as were 15 percent of French, seven percent of Spaniards and 21 percent of Russians

Bush's numbers were highest in India (56 percent) and Nigeria (52 percent).

He scored only 20 percent in Indonesia, 10 percent in Pakistan, and yet worse in Egypt, Jordan and Turkey.

Bush has seen his standing in public opinion polls plummet to the lowest level for a US president in a generation, with three in five Americans believing the March 2003 invasion was a mistake.

US public unease with the war is growing in a congressional election year and Bush faces calls to set a timetable for withdrawal of some 130,000 US troops.

Click to see the figures in full