Now one in FOUR Americans believe Obama is Muslim as Ground Zero mosque row intensifies

Nearly one in four Americans are convinced that Barack Obama is a Muslim, according to a poll. Up to one in four people, or 24 per cent, said they think Mr Obama, whose middle name is Hussein, practices Islam after he announced his support for a the building of a mosque near the site of the 9/11 attacks.

The Time poll released today also revealed that more than 70 per cent of those questioned believed that to build the mosque would insult the memory of victims . In a second poll, the proportion who correctly say he is a Christian is down to just 34 per cent.The largest share of people, 43 per cent, said they don't know his religion, an increase from the 34 per cent who said that in early 2009.

The second survey, conducted by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center and its affiliated Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, is based on interviews conducted before the controversy over whether Muslims should be permitted to construct a mosque near the World Trade Center site.

The poll emerged as the mosque developers refused to rule out accepting funding for the plan from Iran and Saudi Arabia.

When asked, spokesman Oz Sultan said 'I can't comment on that'. Last night Mr Obama said he has 'no regrets' over the comments he made about the right of Muslims to build an Islamic centre near Ground Zero. He was asked about his comments while he was concluding a meeting with the public on the economy in Ohio yesterday.

Mr Obama sparked outrage from Republicans and the families of 9/11 victims after supporting the right of developers to build the mosque. He inserted himself into the debate over the mosque last week when he said Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in the U.S.A day later, he told reporters that he wasn't endorsing the specifics of the mosque plan.

Emergency crews who dealt with the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks have condemned his support for a mosque near Ground Zero and accused him of deserting them.

New York firemen, police and ambulance workers said the President was happy to speak up for Muslims but not support the crews in their fight for decent healthcare. Since the terrorist attack by Islamic extremists, many who risked their lives saving others have been plagued by serious health problems. A bill which would give them £4.6billion compensation is stuck in Congress.

Their call came as a poll showed that Mr Obama was deeply out of step with the American people in his backing of the mosque, which will be two blocks from where the twin towers once stood.