( CNN ) -- Thousands of government supporters demonstrated in at least five Shiite provinces in southern Iraq on Tuesday , opposing protests by thousands of people in mainly Sunni provinces that have gone on for more than two weeks . The demonstrations highlight the country 's sectarian tensions . The Shiite demonstrations took place in Basra , Diwaniyah , Karbala , Al-Muthana and Babil provinces . Demonstrators carried banners reading , `` Yes , yes to al-Maliki implementing the constitution '' and `` No to canceling accountability and justice law , '' referring to Baathists and opposing protesters ' demands in Sunni provinces like Anbar and Salaheddin . Protesters chanted , `` No to sectarianism , no to dividing Iraq , yes to national unity . '' Some carried Iraqi flags and posters of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki , who is a Shiite . Others carried photographs of relatives who they said were killed in attacks by terrorist groups such as al Qaeda in Iraq . Parts of the demonstrations were broadcast on Afaq satellite television , which al-Maliki owns . Hundreds of pro-government demonstrators took to the streets in Diwaniya province , about 160 kilometers ( 100 miles ) south of Baghdad . There , Shiite cleric Qassim al-Moussawi told the protesters that behind this crisis are `` America and Israel '' as well as `` Turkey , Saudi Arabia and Qatar . '' `` No to the return of the Baath party and their loyalists , no to the return of mass graves , '' he shouted . `` We reject dividing Iraq into three regions : Sunni , Shiite and Kurd . '' Al-Moussawi also called for a comprehensive dialogue among all political parties to achieve stability in Iraq . The Shiite demonstrations came after ongoing demonstrations in predominantly Sunni provinces inflamed by the arrest of several guards of Sunni Finance Minister Rafei al-Essawi . Tens of thousands of demonstrators have protested for more than two weeks , demanding that the Shiite-led government stop what they call second-class treatment of Iraq 's Sunni community . They also are demanding the release of detainees they said were held without charges , calling the government corrupt and accusing it of unfairly targeting Iraq 's Sunni people . Sunnis largely boycotted Iraq 's 2005 elections , leading to the emergence of a Shiite-led government . The move left the once-ruling minority disaffected , which contributed to years of bloody insurgency and sectarian warfare . The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq is closely following the demonstrations , according to a statement released Tuesday . The group supports the political and human rights of all Iraqis , as well their social , cultural and economic rights , in the framework of the rule of law . The protesters have voiced grievances they see as violations of their human rights . The government has acknowledged that peaceful protest is a constitutionally guaranteed right of all Iraqis . `` We call on the protesters to refrain from violence and to maintain the peaceful character of their demonstrations , and on the security forces to show the utmost restraint in maintaining law and order , '' said Martin Kobler , the special representative of the United Nations secretary-general . Kobler said that all sides should engage without delay in a peaceful and constructive dialogue in accordance with the Iraqi Constitution and law .
Shiites concentrated in Basra , Diwaniyah , Karbala , Al - Muthana and other provinces . They supported Iraqi government and prime minister , opposed Shia . They were in contrast to those of Shia , who believe government is biased .