Large numbers of British Muslims support Osama bin Laden, according to a new opinion poll.

A survey for the Sunday Times found that 40 per cent believe "bin Laden has cause to wage war against the US", and the same proportion back the proposition that British Muslims who go to fight with the Taliban are right to do so.

Though just 11 per cent believed there was some justification for the September 11 terrorist atrocities, a huge majority - 96 per cent - said the bombing campaign should be brought to a halt.

Almost three-quarters said that Tony Blair was wrong to back the American-led action while 61 per cent did not find efforts to capture or kill bin Laden justified.

The figures will cause concern for the government, which has repeatedly sought to emphasise that it is not conducting a war against Islam. While Downing Street has acknowledged it has a lot of work to do to win over hearts and minds on the streets of the Middle East, the suggestion that it is losing the propaganda battle closer to home will be disturbing news.

However, a YouGov.com poll for the Observer found that amongst the public as a whole, 61 per cent have confidence in Tony Blair's conduct of the war, while almost 60 per cent back the possible deployment of British ground forces.

But 62 per cent say they don't trust the government to tell the truth about the bombing campaign and less that half, 43 per cent, say the efforts to capture or kill bin Laden will be successful.