Amman, Jordan, May. 18 (UPI) -- Jordan denied Wednesday any strain in relations with Egypt over alleged harassment of Egyptian workers by Jordanian police in the northern city of Irbid.

Government spokeswoman Asma Khoder described relations with Egypt as "strong and firm" and denied the existence of new measures restricting the work of Egyptian labor in Jordan.

She said police regularly verify the papers of foreign workers as part of measures ensuring the implementation of the law, and no special measures were directed against the Egyptian workers.

Dozens of Egyptian workers staged a sit-in last week outside the Egyptian embassy in Amman to protest alleged harassment by the Jordanian authorities during a campaign to verify the work and residence permits of foreign labor. (Copyright 2005 United Press International 05/18/05)