WASHINGTON, May 24: President George Bush’s approval rating has dropped four points to 46 per cent in three weeks and a majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of foreign policy, Iraq and the economy, according to a poll published on Tuesday.

Mr Bush’s approval rating in the USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll, conducted by telephone on May 20-22 among 1,006 adults, was just above its lowest point — 45 per cent, on March 21-23 – since he took office in Jan 2001.

With a three-point margin of error, the survey also showed a continued slump in how Americans rate the president’s handling of key issues such as foreign affairs (51 per cent disapprove), Iraq (56 percent disapprove), the economy (58 percent disapprove), and Mr Bush’s proposed reform of the Social Security pension system (59 percent disapprove).

Only in the fight against terrorism did Mr Bush’s actions win the approval of a majority of Americans, 55 per cent.—AFP