PARIS, March 6: Less than three months before a referendum on whether to adopt the EU constitution, 42 per cent of French voters are preparing to vote no, and their number is rising, a survey published on Sunday said.

According to the Ifop poll published in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, the 'yes' camp would carry the plebiscite - called for May 29 by President Jacques Chirac last Friday - if it were held on Sunday. But support is slipping, down three points since the last monthly Ifop survey on the issue, and opposition is climbing.

Currently, 42 percent of the 882 registered voters consulted said they would vote against the EU charter, which aims to streamline decision-making among the bloc's 25 member states and forge a united foreign policy. That is up three points since the last poll.

No margin of error was given, but such polls frequently have to be considered with a leeway of plus or minus three percentage points. The survey's results were similar to other polls recently undertaken.

Observers say the public resistance to the EU constitution - upon which Chirac has staked his personal prestige - stems from increasing anger at government economic and labour reforms, especially attempts to undermine the popular 35 workweek.

Anti-government sentiment is running especially high right now, days before a nation-wide strike set for Thursday which threatens to paralyze France.

Chirac's push for Turkey to be given future EU membership has also raised hackles in the country, which has Europe's largest Muslim population.

Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has called the constitution "historic" and warned a 'no' vote in France - one of the European Union's founding members - could torpedo its adoption.-AFP