US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell said today that anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world had increased and the insurgency in Iraq was worsening, but the United States was taking action to improve security ahead of elections.
Afghanistan and Iraq, where US-led military forces toppled the former leadership, both plan to hold elections in the next several months.
"We have seen an increase in anti-Americanism in the Muslim world ... I'm not denying this," Mr Powell said on ABC's "This Week" program.
"But I think that that will be overcome in due course because what the Muslim world will see as well as the rest of the world is that in Afghanistan 10 million people who have registered to vote will vote on October 9th and bring in place a freely elected president, and I think we're going to do the same thing in Iraq if we stay the course, if we defeat this insurgency," Mr Powell said.
Iraq plans to hold elections in January, but US officials warn that insurgents will use violence to preventing voting, including shooting at polling places.
"We are fighting an intense insurgency," Mr Powell said. "Yes it's getting worse and the reason it's getting worse is that they are determined to disrupt the election."
"And because it's getting worse we will have to increase our efforts to defeat it, not walk away and pray and hope for something else to happen," he added.
His comments were less optimistic than those of President George W Bush, who as recently as last Thursday insisted Iraq was moving slowly toward better days. Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry says Mr Bush is refusing to accept the reality of the situation.
US forces have launched a military offensive on areas considered strongholds of insurgents and foreign fighters. Over the weekend, the US military conducted several air strikes on Falluja aimed at militants loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the
most wanted man in Iraq.