The poll, published by the Daily Telegraph, found that 56 percent of those queried said it was either very likely or fairly likely that the United States and Britain would get bogged down ina drawn-out war in Iraq.

On the other hand, 40 percent of the respondents thought it was very unlikely or fairly unlikely for the war to be protracted.

According to the poll, 54 percent believed the military action is justified, consistent with the last poll YouGov conducted on March 30.

But as many as 40 percent thought it was wrong to wage the war, up from 38 percent two days ago.

Meanwhile, 78 percent of those polled said Britain should continue to take part in the war until Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is defeated, while 14 percent argued that Britain should withdraw from the US-led coalition immediately and bring Britain's troops home.

The poll also found that 41 percent of those questioned believed that the number of British casualties, which stand at 27 so far, was "worrying but bearable" with 37 percent feeling it was "remarkably low." Nineteen percent said the death toll was "unbearably high."

(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2003)