Shafaq News/ The Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned on Monday what it called as "an attack" on the Iranian consulate in Karbala.

"The ministry affirms its commitment to the inviolability of diplomatic missions guaranteed by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the need not to endanger its security," the ministry said in a statement.

"The security of missions and consulates is a red line that cannot be crossed," the statement said, adding that "the security authorities have taken all measures to prevent any breach of their security."

"Such acts will not affect the friendly and good-neighborly relations between the two neighboring countries," the statement said.

Medical sources said on Monday that breaking up  protests and the attempt to storm the Iranian consulate in the holy city of Kerbala killed five people and wounded others.

In the meantime, the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement today that it monitored, through its observation teams, the events that took place in Karbala province on Sunday evening,3^rd of November 2019, which led to a clash between security forces and demonstrators as they tried to enter the Iranian consulate led to the death of (3) demonstrators with live bullets and injuring (12) demonstrators and security forces.

The Commission condemned the continued actions that lead to deaths and injuries, called on security forces to fully adhere to the application of the criteria of security clashes, the non-use of live bullets and refer people who directly shot towards the demonstrators for investigation.

The Commission called on all demonstrators to remain in the places designated for the demonstrations for the sustainability of their peaceful demonstrations and not to endanger diplomatic buildings, as this is a violation of international agreements binding on Iraq, and we call on all parties to stay away from any clashes that generates casualties between the parties.

In the early hours of Monday, security forces broke up demonstrations outside the Iranian consulate in Karbala.

Dozens of protesters surrounded the consulate, lowered the Iranian flag, raised the Iraqi flag instead, and set fire to the concrete blocks surrounding the building.

Protesters in several predominantly Shi'ite cities, including Baghdad, began a general strike on vital roads and government departments on Monday in a move to increase pressure on the judiciary, legislative and executive authorities , political parties and ruling powers to meet the protesters' demands.