Poll shows Europeans would support action against terrorism

Associated Press Writer

PARIS (AP) -- Majorities in several European countries and Israel want their nations to take part in a well-planned military action against the terrorists behind last week's attacks against the United States, a new poll suggests.

Some 79 percent of British adults and 73 percent of French adults surveyed in a Sofres-Gallup poll said their nations should cooperate in a U.S.-led military campaign aimed at the masterminds of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The poll, published in Wednesday's the French newspaper Liberation, gave no margin of error.

More than half of Germans polled, 53 percent, said they would support a role in a U.S. military anti-terrorism campaign, as did 66 percent of Italians; 66 percent of Israelis; and 58 percent of Spaniards.

The poll was based on interviews with 1,000 French adults and 3,000 adults in the United States, Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy and Israel.

French President Jacques Chirac met with President Bush in Washington on Tuesday to express France's commitment to fighting terrorism.

When asked whether France might play a military role, Defense Minister Alain Richard told CNN on Wednesday that his country is keeping its options open.

"There is no restriction from our side about the kind of means and the range of means that could be used," Richard said. "Our contribution can be very significant."