A growing number of Australians think Iraq war is not worth it, but many say Australian troops should stay there as long as necessary, according to a latest poll.

A survey by Newspoll found 58 percent of Australians think it was not worth going to war, 13 percentage points higher than the figure taken in February.

The number of those who think the war was justified has fallen from 46 percent to 32 percent.

The poll, which was published on The Australian daily Monday, also showed that 45 percent of survey respondents want Australian troops to stay as long as necessary, while those who think to bring back soldiers immediately take up 33 percent.

Australia, as a close ally of the United States, joined the coalition in the Iraq War last year and keeps about 900 soldiers in and around Iraq.

The poll, which was based on 1,200 interviews across Australia, was taken when Iraq prepares for its election scheduled on January 30.

Source: Xinhua