A newspaper in the Gulf revealed on Sunday why the religious authorities refused to receive officials in the Iraqi government, while a political source confirmed the existence of negative indicators on the renewed demonstrations in the south of the country. 

"The government has received negative signals about the possibility of renewed demonstrations in southern Iraq ," the source said , adding that "this is the main reason behind the refusal of religious authorities in Najaf and Karbala to receive officials in the government."

The source, who asked not to be named, said that "the report of the Ministry of Planning refers to the high index of poverty and unemployment in southern Iraq, especially in the provinces of Basra , Babel , Dhi Qar, Qadisiyah and Najaf, in addition to continuing poor services, especially water, electricity and health sector," pointing to "There is also unrest among the tribes, not just the civilian stream or the youth group in those provinces." 

He stressed that "the government is currently considering an option presented to them, which is to oversee the development projects in those provinces and withdraw them from the provincial councils, being the most corrupt link and waste of funds, and may be the ministries of industry, reconstruction, housing, municipalities and Iraqi government companies file."

The protests continued in neighborhoods such as Hakimiya, Haritha, Qurnah, Abu al-Khasib and the center of the city of Basra since its launch in July 2018, while it stopped in other cities such as Karbala and Najaf. Babil, Missan and Nasiriyah.