Wednesday, January 19 2005 20:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Ahead of US President George W Bush's inauguration for a second term, a majority of people surveyed in a BBC World Service global opinion poll believed that his re-election made the world more dangerous but those in India felt otherwise.

On an average, 58 per cent of the 21,953 people questioned in 21 countries said they were of the view that Bush's re-election made the world more dangerous. Only three countries - India, Poland and Philippines opined the world was now safer.

In India, 62 per cent of the people surveyed felt that the Bush administration was positive for global security and BBC said the reason for this may be because the poll was carried out in cities where people have benefited economically from closer trade ties with the US.

The survey was carried out by Programme on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) alongwith Globe Scan.

It also found that 47 per cent of the people questioned now see US influence in the world as largely negative, and view Americans negatively as well.

None of the countries polled supported contributing their troops to Iraq. "This is quite a grim picture for the US," said PIPA Director Steven Kull.

"Negative feelings about Bush are high and are generalising to the American people who re-elected him."

Most negative feelings were found in Western European, Latin American and Muslim countries. They include traditional US allies such as Germany, France, Britain and Italy as well as neighbours Canada and Mexico.