A poll reveals that the majority of Americans oppose the ongoing occupation of Iraq, despite reports suggesting the US is making progress.

Recent government figures show 387 civilians were killed in Iraq in July - 61 less than the number of those killed in June 2008.

The White House argues that the numbers show 'a dramatic improvement in security' and US President George W. Bush says progress on the ground is showing a 'degree of durability'.

A CNN and Opinion Research Corporation Poll survey revealed that some 66 percent of Americans still oppose 'the US war in Iraq'.

Only 33 percent of about 1,041 participants were in favor of the occupation of Iraq which began in 2003.

The then US secretary of state, Collin Powel, presented the UN General Assembly with evidence implicating Iraq as an active producer of chemical and biological weapons with ties to al-Qaeda.

Over one million civilians and more than 4,000 American soldiers have so far lost their lives in Iraq in spite of the fact that all such US allegations have been discredited as lies.

According to Nobel laureate and economist Joseph Stiglitz, the monthly cost of the Iraq war will surpass 12 billion dollars in 2008.

MD/HGH