In the refugee camps, which, on television, look like permanent villages, Islamic opposition to the Soviet military presence is fervent.

One theme of the tape was to encourage Iraq to develop an Islamic opposition to the American presence.

The Islamic opposition was split, with slightly over half in favor, and slightly less than half opposed.

No longer directly involved in a war against an Islamic opposition, the Soviets can probably expect a more receptive audience from leaders of Muslim countries.

The regime faced further threats from a resurgence of the Islamic opposition.

The Authority has arrested militants after recent attacks, but has later released many of them to avoid a total break with the Islamic opposition.

Their support, along with that of pro-Government candidates, is likely to be enough to override Islamic opposition to the edict.

Today, thanks to a three-year crackdown following a terror attack, leaders of the Islamic opposition are all either in jail or in exile.

Aside from the Sheik, the other presidential candidates are known as open advocates of the army's drive to eliminate all Islamic opposition by force.

"The Islamic opposition, mainly the Hamas, is getting stronger," said one official familiar with the discussions.