Poll: Most U.S. citizens don't want strike against Syria

PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Eight in 10 U.S. citizens believe Syrian President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons, but most don't want a U.S. strike on Syria, poll numbers indicate. 

More than seven in 10 U.S. citizens don't want the United States to get involved in Syria's 2-year-old civil war, the CNN/ORC International poll released Monday shows.

A Gallup poll released Monday indicates 51 percent of U.S. citizens oppose military action against Syria and 36 percent favor it.

Obama asked Congress on Aug. 31 to authorize a military strike against Syria in response to the Assad regime's gas attack in Aug. 21 in suburban Damascus, which the Obama administration alleges killed more than 1,400 people, including hundreds of children.

In an interview with PBS' Charlie Rose, Assad said he had nothing to do with the attack.

Congress could decide as early as Wednesday whether to approve Obama's proposed military action.

The CNN poll was conducted Sept. 6-8 with 1,022 adults who were surveyed by telephone. The margin of error was 3 percent.

The Gallup poll was conducted Sept. 3-4 with 1,021 adults interviewed by telephone. The margin of error was 4 percent.