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More Russians think U.S.-British war in Iraq successful - poll

MOSCOW. April 17 (Interfax) - Pollsters say the proportion of Russians that thought the U.S.-British war in Iraq as unsuccessful fell to 24% immediately after the coalition captured Baghdad from 52% a week after the war broke out.

   Today, 54% of Russians see the coalition's military action as a success, the Public Opinion Foundation said on Thursday.

   According to a foundation report made available to Interfax, 37% of people said the Iraqi army had put up weaker resistance than they expected.

   At the same time, 21% said the Iraqis had put up more stubborn resistance than they expected.

   Though U.S. and British forces have captured all key Iraqi cities, Saddam Hussein has been toppled, and armed resistance has died down, many Russians think it will be a while before the war is over, the report suggests.

   It says 24% expect the war to go on for more than a year, 11% think the coalition needs another three months to complete its operation, and 20% think peace will come in a month.

   The Public Opinion Foundation conducted surveys on April 5 and April 12, with 1,500 people questioned in each.

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