9/11 - who was to blame?
2008-09-10 21:41
Washington - Seven years after the September 11
attacks, there is no consensus outside the US that
Islamist militants from al-Qaeda were responsible, according to an
international poll published on Wednesday.
The survey of 16 063 people in 17 nations found majorities in
only nine countries believe al-Qaeda was behind the attacks on New
York and Washington that killed about 3 000 people in 2001.
US officials squarely blame al-Qaeda, whose leader Osama bin
Laden has boasted of organising the suicide attacks by his
followers using hijacked commercial airliners.
On average, 46% of those surveyed said al-Qaeda was
responsible, 15% said the US government, 7% said
Israel and 7% said some other perpetrator.
One in four
people said they did not know who was behind the attacks.
In Europe, al-Qaeda was cited by 56% of Britons and
Italians, 63% of French and 64% of Germans.
The US government was to blame, according to 23% of Germans and 15% of Italians.
Respondents in the Middle East were especially likely to
name a perpetrator other than al-Qaeda, the poll found.
Israel was behind the attacks, said 43% of people in
Egypt, 31% in Jordan and 19% in the Palestinian
Territories.
The US government was blamed by 36% of Turks
and 27% of Palestinians.
In Mexico, 30% cited the US government and 33% named
al-Qaeda.
The only countries with overwhelming majorities blaming
al-Qaeda were Kenya with 77% and Nigeria with 71%.
Interviews were conducted in China, Indonesia, Nigeria,
Russia, Egypt, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Jordan, Kenya,
Mexico, the Palestinian Territories, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey
and Ukraine.
The poll, taken between July 15 and August 31, had a margin of
error of plus or minus 3 to 4%.
- Reuters