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WASHINGTON, Wednesday (Reuters)-The international image of the United States has become an early casualty of the looming war with Iraq, with negative views toward America holding sway even in allied nations such as Britain, a survey suggested.

The nine-nation survey, released a day after U.S. President George W. Bush issued his 48-hour ultimatum to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, said anti-war sentiment and disapproval of Bush administration policies have dramatically undercut U.S. favorability ratings in Europe, Russia and Turkey over the past six months.

In France, which spearheaded war opposition in the U.N. Security Council, only 31 percent of the public held a positive opinion about the United States, down from 63 percent in 2002, according to survey findings compiled by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Favorable U.S. ratings fell to 25 percent from 61 percent over the same period in France's anti-war ally, Germany.

The U.S. public image has slumped even in countries that have joined the White House's "coalition of the willing."

Only 14 percent of the Spanish public had a favorable view of the United States, down from 50 percent earlier, while positive attitudes in Britain fell to 48 percent from 75 percent.

The country with the highest opinion about America was Poland, where 50 percent of the public was still positive, versus 79 percent six months ago.

Criticism of U.S. foreign policy was almost universal, with disapproval among overwhelming majorities eliminating a ratings boost for Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.

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