AMMAN Ñ Tensions continue to rise in Jordan amid Islamic opposition activities against the government.

The tensions have included rising criticism as well as the mass resignation by Islamic politicians.

Eighty members of the opposition Islamic Action Front have resigned from municipal councils in wake of the government's refusal to appoint mayors to leading cities. Instead, the government decided to merge municipalities.

Islamists hold majorities in such towns as Irbid, Ruseifa, Tafileh, Zarqa. The IAF is also heavily represented in the municipalities of Karak, Sahab and Madaba. Last week, the government replaced Irbid's Islamic mayor, Nabil Kofahi.

"This is part of a series of measures taken by the government to crack down on public freedoms," IAF secretary-general Abdul Latif Arabiyat said.

The government has launched other measures to limit the influence of Islamic fundamentalist opponents of the Hashemite regime including the appointment of student council members of University of Jordan. In another move, the president of Al Bayit University has been replaced after publishing an article that criticized the government.

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