What does the world know anyway?

US-led efforts to tackle the al-Qaeda group are not regarded as successful, an opinion poll carried out for the BBC World Service suggests.

Some 29% of people said the “war on terror” launched by President George W Bush in 2001 had had no effect on the Islamist militant network.

According to 30% of those surveyed, US policies have strengthened al-Qaeda.

The most commonly held view of al-Qaeda in the 23 nations polled was a negative one – except in Egypt and Pakistan.

Asked who is winning “the conflict between al-Qaeda and the US”, 49% said neither side while 22% believed the US had gained the upper hand. Just 10% said al-Qaeda was winning.