CAIRO Ñ Sudan, for years a sponsor of Islamic insurgency, is now alarmed over the prospect of a terrorist backlash.

Arab diplomatic sources said the Khartoum regime has been heavily criticized by opponents for its cooperation with the United States in the international campaign against terrorism. The opponents have charged that Khartoum has extradited Muslims wanted by the United States.

The result has been increasing protests against the regime and the U.S.-led military offensive against Afghanistan. Sudanese security forces have been on alert for the prospect of demonstrations and violence.

A key concern is the support given to the opposition by Islamic clergy in Sudan. The clergy is believed aligned with deposed parliamentary speaker Hassan Turabi, for years a rival of President Omar Bashir.

Several leading Sudanese clerics have issued a statement that supports the Afghan ruling Taliban movement and Saudi billionaire fugitive Osama Bin Laden. The statement called for attacks on those who oppose Islam, a reference to Britain and the United States, as well as a boycott of those two countries.

Over the weekend, Sudanese Interior Minister Abdul Rahim Hussein warned that authorities will not allow violent demonstrations. Hussein said the government appealed to the opposition to keep any anti-U.S. demonstrations peaceful.

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