Half of a sample of almost 800 residents of Baghdad believe the war to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was right, according to an opinion poll conducted by a British company and published yesterday.

Nevertheless, only 6% accepted the elimination of weapons of mass destruction as the justification, with 47% attributing the invasion by US and British forces to the desire to secure oil supplies.

Support for Israel was given as the reason for war by 41%, while liberating Iraqis from a dictator was given by 23%.

The YouGov poll, carried out last week under commission from the Spectator news magazine and Channel 4 television, found 50% believed the war was right, while 27% were against it.

Exactly half said they were neither friendly nor hostile to the occupying forces, with 26% fairly or very friendly and 18% fairly or very hostile.

Asked whether they would prefer to live under Saddam or the US, 47% said they had no preference, while 29% preferred the US.

Just 9% preferred Saddam.

Only 13% wanted the occupying forces out immediately, while 45% advocated a stay of a year or less and 31% an occupation of a few years.

Iraqis should receive political power immediately, 40% believed.

The pollsters acknowledged the survey was carried out under conditions that were "not ideal", and noted that their questioners had in one instance been threatened with firearms. - Sapa-DPA.