An ICM poll of British Muslims finds that 70 per cent view the "war on terror" as a war on Islam.

In spite of George W Bush and Tony Blair's insistence that this year's conflict in Afghanistan and a looming Gulf war are not a "clash of civilisations" UK Muslims remain unconvinced.

And more than half believe the involvement of Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda in the New York and Bali terror attacks has not been proved.

Over a third of those polled - 37 per cent - said Muslims had suffered more hostility and abuse since September 11.

Four fifths believe the prime minister must have UN approval and the backing of parliament before launching a war on Iraq.

But the survey for BBC's Today programme also shows that most Muslims are patriotic towards Britain - although at 67 per cent the proportion is lower than that for the general population 80 per cent.

A score pollsters explain "by the fact that the British Muslim population is on average younger than the general population and patriotism tends to rise with age".

Around one in ten backed further Islamic extremist attacks on the US and eight per cent felt an attack by al Qaeda on Britain would be justified.