An anti-war demonstrator holds up a sign calling for the public to 'agitate' against 'imperialist war' at a rally in central Paris Saturday. Photo: Joel Robine/AFP

Most Americans oppose a unilateral war against Iraq or one with only a few partners and most want Washington to take more time seeking a peaceful solution rather than moving quickly into a military confrontation, a new poll says.

By 60 per cent to 35 per cent, people in the Newsweek poll released Saturday said they would prefer that the Bush administration allow more time to find an alternative to war.

Support for a military option would be very strong, at slightly more than 80 per cent, if the United States were to act with full allied support and the backing of the UN Security Council. But a majority would be opposed should the U.S. act without UN support and with no more than one or two allies.

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The President's job approval was at 56 per cent in the Newsweek poll and 53 per cent in a CNN-Time poll released over the weekend. His approval rate was in the 60s in both polls in November. According to the CNN-Time poll, the decline comes as a result of slightly higher disapproval among Republicans, independents and Democrats alike.

Half in the CNN-Time poll, 50 per cent, said they approve of Mr. Bush's handling of foreign policy, while 42 per cent disapprove. In July, before the administration began its public campaign about Iraq, 64 per cent approved his handling of foreign policy.

People worry about the impact of the United States' taking military action against Iraq. More than half in the Newsweek poll, 54 per cent, said they expect it would cause serious divisions with allies. And more than two-thirds thought it would cause serious problems throughout the Arab countries and would cause Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to use biological or chemical weapons against Israel.

The CNN-Time poll of 1,010 adults was taken Jan. 15-16, and the Newsweek poll of 1,002 adults was taken Jan. 16-17. Both have error margins of plus or minus 3 percentage points.