Denmark’s far-right People’s Party appears to have increased its popularity as the crisis continues over cartoons of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed. An opinion poll published in a Danish Sunday newspaper suggests the country’s third largest political group would gain eight more seats in parliament if elections were held now. It follows a week of demonstrations across the Muslim world in which several Danish embassies have been targetted.

Copenhagen has urged its citizens to leave a number of countries because of what it calls a “clear and present danger” from Islamic extremists. Although protests against the cartoons seem to be dwindling, the conflict remains explosive for Denmark’s Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen. The row is his first big test after more than four years in office and some commentators believe he could face calls to quit if the violence does not stop soon. But the survey suggests most Danes understand Muslims anger over the caricatures. However fewer than half of those questioned thought it was wrong to publish the cartoons which sparked the storm of protests.

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