WASHINGTON, 25 April 2007 — Most Muslims want US military forces out of the Middle East and Islamic countries and many agree with Al-Qaeda’s goals, if not its tactics, suggested a public opinion poll conducted in Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and Indonesia.

“Most respondents have mixed feelings about Al-Qaeda,” said a statement of the study’s findings, conducted by the Washington-based nonprofit group WorldPublicOpinion.org and the University of Maryland.

“Large majorities agree with many of its goals, but believe that terrorist attacks on civilians are contrary to Islam.” An average of 74 percent of all those polled agreed with the goal of “push(ing) the US to remove its bases and military forces from all Islamic countries,” said the poll.

A full 91 percent of Egyptians and 69 percent of Moroccans said they approved of attacks against US soldiers in Iraq, while 61 percent of Indonesians disapproved. Pakistanis appeared divided on the matter, with 31 percent for such attacks and 33 percent against.

The survey found similar responses with regard to US forces in Afghanistan and the Gulf.

At least 70 percent or more in all countries supported the goals of “stand(ing) up to Americans and affirm(ing) the dignity of the Islamic people,” and “pressur(ing) the United States not to favor Israel,” it said.

Those polled were asked whether they thought certain ideas were the goals of Al-Qaeda or groups inspired by the Osama Bin Laden-led militant network, and then were asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed, somewhat or strongly, with those goals. Most agreed that Al-Qaeda goals included requiring a strict application of Islamic, or Shariah, law in every Islamic country, pushing US military forces out of all Islamic countries, and keeping Western values out of Islamic countries.