“Political parties and militias have attempted to create discord within the demonstration Online Cigarettes Store USA square in the center of Nasiriyah — they took advantage of the rifts between protesters,” said Ali, a protester based in the city. “We have concerns the emotions arising from his death will rob the protests of its true aims."
The events in Nasiriyah have spooked protesters in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the movement, who fear similar attacks, several activists said.
Since Soleimani's death, protest organizers have been trying to refocus attention on their movement, three activists said. With that in mind, they issued a statement last week saying their goals had not changed.
At the top of their list is preventing Abdul-Mahdi, who has headed a caretaker government since his Newport Cigarettes Shop resignation in December, from being renamed prime minister, which many suspect the country's political elites would like.
“All the news is about America and Iran, and the elites are trying to make the people forget about the protests Cheap Newport 100s cigarettes in Iraq, and our goal for change and we don't want that," said the protester, Noor. “We are trying to be calm and study what is going on around us. We are telling everyone, stay with Iraq. This is not our war.”