Amman  - The Jordanian government has ordered eight prominent members of the influential Muslim Brotherhood movement to stop delivering speeches at the state-run mosques on Fridays, the group's deputy leader Jamil Abu Bakr said Wednesday.

He called the ban, which was issued by the Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs Abdul Fattah Salah, a backward step.

He did not specifty further. But informed sources said that the ban was decided under pressure from pro-government political circles after the expanded influence the Muslim Brotherhood movement and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), came to enjoy during the massive demonstrations that swept Jordan during the 22-day Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Islamists, opposition parties and trade unions led scores of protests throughout the country demanding the withdrawal of the Israeli ambassador from Amman and the abrogation of the peace treaty which Jordan concluded with Israel in 1994.

Muslim Brotherhood figures were also strongly critical of Jordan's stance, including its failure to attend the Arab summit in Doha. (dpa)