WATCH: Kurds protest in front of UN Erbil office following Iraqi forces' advance on Kirkuk

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Kurds on Tuesday gathered in front of the UN compound in the Kurdistan Region's capital of Erbil to protest the lack of a strong response to Iraqi Forces and Shiite militias assailing the city of Kirkuk on Monday.

“The Secretary-General [António Guterres] is following developments in the Kirkuk Governorate very closely. He appeals to the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to take coordinated steps to prevent and avoid further clashes, escalation, or breakdown of law and order,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General stated on Monday.

“He calls on the parties to jointly manage the situation and resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue in a manner that is consistent with the Constitution of Iraq,” Dujarric added.

The UN’s statement came as the Iranian-backed Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi militia and Iraqi Forces launched an assault to claim the oil-rich, multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk in the south of the Kurdistan Region. By the end of the day, Iraqi forces controlled the area and brought down Kurdistani flags from public offices.

A large number of protesters gathered in front of the UN office in Erbil and accused the international community of not standing up for the human rights and principles for which they were established to enforce.

“You’re liars. Your actions don’t match the core principles of your organization which is to protect and respect the right of nations,” one protestor said, addressing his criticism to the UN while speaking to Kurdistan 24 reporters.

“They pretend to be neutral in the dispute between Erbil and Baghdad.  But it is their advanced weapons the Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraqi forces were using when they attacked Kirkuk,” another protester told Kurdistan 24 while holding the Kurdistan flag in his hands.

The protesters brought down the UN flag at the gate and raised the Kurdistan flag instead, calling on UN representatives to “step out” of their offices and personally receive a letter the protesters wrote, in English and Arabic, in the aftermath of Kirkuk.

People raised various signs expressing their disappointment in the international community.

“There is no room in the Kurdistan Region for betrayal,” one of the signs read.

“Kurds have no friends but mountains,” read another.

Protestors chanted in support of Kirkuk's status as part of the Kurdistan Region. 

Ties between Erbil and Baghdad sharply deteriorated following the Sep. 25 referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region, which saw nearly 93 percent voting in favor of secession from the rest of Iraq.

Editing by G.H. Renaud