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Armenia: Heavy fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, helicopter hit Heavy fighting along separatist Nagorno-Karabakh front line
(about 1 hour later)
YEREVAN, Armenia — The Armenian Defense Ministry says heavy fighting has broken out with Azerbaijani forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, a section of Azerbaijan that is under the control of local ethnic Armenian forces and the Armenian military. YEREVAN, Armenia — Heavy fighting has broken out between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along the front lines of the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan told The Associated Press on Saturday that the fighting was taking place along the entire “line of control” that separates Nagorno-Karabakh from the rest of Azerbaijan. In a separate posting on Facebook, he said there were losses on both sides and that an Azerbaijani helicopter was hit. Officials from each country blamed the other Saturday for the fighting that began overnight. There were no immediate figures on casualties.
There was no immediate comment from Azerbaijan authorities. Nagorno-Karabakh, which is surrounded by Azerbaijan, has been under the control of local ethnic Armenian forces and the Armenian military since a war ended in 1994. Years of negotiations under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have brought little progress in resolving the dispute.
Nagorno-Karabakh has been controlled by Armenia’s military and local forces since a war ended in 1994. Years of negotiations under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have brought little progress in resolving the dispute. Armenian forces also occupy several areas outside Nagorno-Karabakh. The sides are separated by a demilitarized buffer zone, but both claim frequent violations by the other.
The Armenian Defense Ministry said Azerbaijan used warplanes, tanks and artillery to try to make inroads into Nagorno-Karabkh and that “Azerbaijani authorities bear all responsibility for the unprecedentedly supercharged situation.”
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said the fighting began when Armenian forces fired mortars and large-caliber artillery shells across the front line. Ministry spokesman Vagif Dargyakhly told The Associated Press that more than 120 shots were fired, some of which hit civilian residential areas.
Dargyakhly also denied a claim by Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan that an Azerbaijani helicopter was downed in the fighting.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.