Only 18 percent of Iraqis have confidence in US-led forces and about 86 percent are concerned about someone in their household being a victim of violence, according to a survey published by the BBC yesterday.

The poll of more than 2,000 people indicated Iraqis have become less optimistic about their future compared to a similar survey in 2005 when respondents were generally hopeful, the BBC said.

Iraqis were also disappointed by reconstruction efforts in the four years since the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, with 67 percent saying efforts had not been effective.

In Washington, US President George W. Bush pleaded for more patience in the Iraq War yesterday, saying success is possible but "will take months, not days or weeks".

(China Daily via agencies March 20, 2007)