The survey by NBC television and The Wall Street Journal found that 47 percent of registered voters now believe Bush deliberately misled the people to make his case for war in Iraq, while 44 percent think he gave the country the most accurate information he had.

In March, a majority of Americans said that Bush had given the most accurate information he had.

The poll showed Bush and his Democratic rival John Kerry running neck-and-neck ahead of the November 2 election.

If the presidential election were held today, Bush would win 45 percent of the vote, while Massachusetts Senator Kerry would take 44 percent, the survey said.

The poll came after a national commission investigating the September 11 attacks announced earlier this month that it had found no evidence of a cooperative relationship between the ousted government of Saddam Hussein and the al-Qaeda terror network blamed for the strikes in New York and Washington.

Reuters adds: The White House on Wednesday dismissed opinion polls showing that many Americans feel the war in Iraq has increased the danger of terrorism instead of reducing it.

Several surveys this month have shown growing public concern about the US-led occupation of Iraq and its potential for fueling Muslim anger against the United States.