(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-04 17:21

WASHINGTON - Unhappiness amid Afghans towards the US military in their country has grown alongside the frustration at the increasing violence, a poll result showed.

According to the result, 42 percent of respondents approve of US efforts, down from 68 percent in 2005 and 57 percent last year.

In southwestern Afghanistan, two-thirds of people are critical of US forces, and support for NATO-led forces has fallen to 45 percent this year, compared with 83 percent a year ago.

Whereas in the same region, 23 percent of respondents voiced support for the Taliban six years after it was ousted by US-led coalition forces, a year ago 81 percent said the Taliban had "no significant support at all" in the area.

"Civilian casualties blamed on these forces is a prime complaint," analysts said.

The poll also indicated that Afghans' confidence in the ability of US and NATO forces to provide security has slipped from last year's two-thirds to just half this year.

Countrywide, 71 percent of Afghans prefer the US military presence and 76 percent see the overthrow of the Taliban as a good thing.

This year has been the most violent in Afghanistan since the beginning of the US-led war on the Taliban in 2001. About 6,200 people have been killed by insurgent attacks in the country, among whom over 800 were civilians.

The poll, conducted for three major news media, ABC News, the BBC and German public TV station ARD between Oct. 28 and Nov. 7, involved 1,377 Afghans in face-to-face interviews in all the country's 34 provinces.