SINGAPORE -- Asians are not convinced that the evidence released so far by the United States and Britain is sufficient to mount a war, according to a regional poll published Monday.

An overwhelming 85 per cent of the lawmakers, academics and business leaders interviewed in the Straits Times Asiapoll said they opposed military action against Iraq without a UN mandate.

The poll was conducted last week when British Prime Minister Tony Blair released a 50-page dossier accusing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein of hiding weapons of mass destruction, and the United States said Iraq has helped train members of Al-Qaeda in chemical weapons development, AFP reported.

More than 80 percent wanted more convincing evidence against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

But opposition to a war falls significantly if Iraq refuses a return of UN weapons inspectors. While 85 per cent oppose an attack currently, only 36 per cent would object to a military strike if Iraq blocks weapons inspections.

The Straits Times said its bureaus in 10 Asian cities spoke to about 100 lawmakers, senior government officials, diplomats, think-tank experts and chief executives to assess Asian views on the U.S. push for a "regime change" in Iraq.

It found most have yet to be convinced by the evidence presented so far, and if there is to be war, it would not have full Asian backing if the U.S. attacked without a UN mandate.

There was a reluctance to use force, even though about half the respondents expressed doubts about Saddam's sincerity when he agreed to allow weapons inspectors to return to Baghdad.

"Unilateral U.S. action against Iraq would invalidate the power of the UN. And if the U.S. does it, other countries can follow suit," said Rizal Buendia, the political science department chairman at De La Salle University in the Philippines. "The U.S. is acting too much like a bully .