WASHINGTON - A majority of Americans now say the war in Iraq was not worth fighting, a view that has driven down the ratings of President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Monday.

Fifty-six percent of those questioned, a new high, said that the cost of the war outweighs the benefits and is not worth it. It marked a gain of seven percentage points from a poll conducted in July.

Fifty-seven percent said they disapprove of the way Bush is handling the situation in Iraq, and 53 percent disapprove of the way Rumsfeld is handling his job, according to the survey.

However, 60 percent said the Iraqi elections scheduled for Jan. 30 should go forward regardless of the security situation.

The poll also found that most Americans -- 58 percent -- still say U.S. forces should remain in Iraq until order is restored.

Several Republican lawmakers have expressed doubts about Rumsfeld's performance and some Democrats want him fired over his handling of the war. More than half of the poll respondents, 52 percent, said Rumsfeld should be replaced.

Separately, a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll also found growing pessimism over Iraq. Nearly 60 percent said they disapprove of the way the United States was handling the situation in Iraq and 52 percent said Rumsfeld should resign.

Bush defended Rumsfeld at a news conference on Monday, saying the Pentagon chief was "a good human being" and "doing a really fine job."

According to the ABC News/Washington Post poll, Bush's approval rating on Iraq dropped to 42 percent, down from 60 percent a year ago. Fewer than half said they believe there has been significant progress toward restoring order in Iraq, down from 51 percent last summer.

The ABC News/Washington Post telephone poll of 1,004 adults was conducted Dec. 16-19 and has a three-point margin of error.

The USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup poll of 1,002 adults was conducted Dec. 17-19 and has a 4.5-point margin of error.

© Copyright 2004 Reuters Ltd

###