68% back Clinton despite protest wave

While 68 per cent of Americans surveyed in a poll said they approved of President Clinton's handling of the situation in Iraq…

While 68 per cent of Americans surveyed in a poll said they approved of President Clinton's handling of the situation in Iraq, protests against US policy are continuing.

The US ambassador to the UN, Mr Bill Richardson, was jeered by protesters at the University of Minnesota yesterday when he tried to explain US policy towards Iraq.

About 100 opponents of military strikes chanted "no blood for oil" at a breakfast speech.

The ambassador told the estimated 100 protesters: "I salute you and I wish you the best, but I have to tell you: on the policy towards Iraq, you are wrong.

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"It is very important that America, that all of you here, remain engaged in our debate on foreign policy. What you are doing is democracy."

On Thursday, President Clinton also encountered a small group of protesters when he visited Baltimore. But Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, had an easier time than at the rowdy meeting at Ohio University when she spoke at universities in Tennessee and South Carolina on Thursday.

While she was received politely and applauded on arrival, Ms Albright was asked tough questions. Students focussed on whether Iraq was a threat to national security and on concerns for the safety of Iraqi civilians.

After the disruptions which marked the meeting at Ohio State University on Wednesday and which were televised around the world, the White House is reported to have called Democratic Party leaders and promised the administration would present a better case for its policy.

At her meetings the following day, Ms Albright stepped up her presentation and denounced President Saddam Hussein as the most evil man the world had seen since Hitler.

The White House said yesterday if an agreement is reached on weapons inspections as a result of the mission of Mr Kofi Annan to Baghdad, it will be "closely monitored" to ensure it is not breached.

President Clinton broadcast a radio message to Arab countries in support of a new UN resolution increasing the amount of oil that Iraq can sell for the purchase of food and other humanitarian goods.

The resolution allows oil exports to be increased from $2 billion in a six-month period to $5.3 billion. President Clinton said the sanctions imposed after the 1991 Gulf War were aimed at Iraq's "military machine" and not at the population. He repeated the US position, however, that there will be military action unless Iraq allows free and unfettered access to UN weapons inspectors.

The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll showed 40 per cent of Americans would support a "major bombing attack" on Iraq if it does not comply with UN resolutions on weapons inspections.

There was 23 per cent support for a "limited bomb attack", while 31 per cent said there should be "no bombing".

A majority (56 per cent) favoured the US trying to force Mr Saddam from power although President Clinton has said that this is not the aim of bombing strikes if they take place.

Asked if President Clinton had "a clear policy on Iraq or not", 58 per cent said yes and 35 per cent said no.