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Turkish President backs Azerbaijan in conflict with Armenia Turkish President backs Azerbaijan in conflict with Armenia
(35 minutes later)
The Turkish president has promised to back Azerbaijan as its conflict with Armenians over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continues.The Turkish president has promised to back Azerbaijan as its conflict with Armenians over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh continues.
“We pray our Azerbaijani brothers will prevail in these clashes with the least casualties,” said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Fighting erupted over the weekend between the two countries in a conflict that has remained largely dormant for two decades. 
Fighting, in what has been a dormant conflict for two decades, escalated over the weekend with at least 30 troops and a boy killed on both sides on Saturday. Thirty troops and a boy were killed on both sides on Saturday over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan, which has been under the control of local Armenian forces and the Armenian military since a war ended in 1994. Conflict over the weekend is considered to be the worst outbreak since this period.
Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan, has been under the control of local Armenian forces and the Armenian military since a war ended in 1994. Conflict over the weekend is considered to be the worst outbreak since this period. On Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged his support for Turkey's ally Azerbaijan.
“We pray our Azerbaijani brothers will prevail in these clashes with the least casualties,” said he said.
The intervention will anger Armenia, which has historical enmity toward the Turkish president who has continually denied that the mass killing of Armenians by Turks during the Ottoman era was genocide, as claimed by Armenia.
Azerbaijan’s defence ministry announced a unilateral ceasefire against Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday, saying it will be unilaterally “suspending a counter-offensive and response on the territories occupied in Armenia” after pleas from international organisations.Azerbaijan’s defence ministry announced a unilateral ceasefire against Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday, saying it will be unilaterally “suspending a counter-offensive and response on the territories occupied in Armenia” after pleas from international organisations.
However, officials in the self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh have disputed Azerbaijan’s ceasefire.However, officials in the self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh have disputed Azerbaijan’s ceasefire.
David Babayan, a spokesman for the Karabakh president, said on Sunday they had not seen any signs that fighting had been suspended.David Babayan, a spokesman for the Karabakh president, said on Sunday they had not seen any signs that fighting had been suspended.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s defence ministry also claims to have restored control over a strategic area near the front line.Nagorno-Karabakh’s defence ministry also claims to have restored control over a strategic area near the front line.
It said Nagorno-Karabakh forces went on a counter-offensive around the village of Talish after Azerbaijani forces shelled their positions just before dawn on Sunday using rockets, artillery and armour.It said Nagorno-Karabakh forces went on a counter-offensive around the village of Talish after Azerbaijani forces shelled their positions just before dawn on Sunday using rockets, artillery and armour.
Two Karabakh troops have reportedly been injured.Two Karabakh troops have reportedly been injured.
Earlier on Sunday, Vagif Dargyakhly, a spokesman for Azerbaijan’s defence ministry, said Azerbaijani positions came under fire overnight and that civilian areas were also hit.Earlier on Sunday, Vagif Dargyakhly, a spokesman for Azerbaijan’s defence ministry, said Azerbaijani positions came under fire overnight and that civilian areas were also hit.
Mr Erdogan has criticised the Minsk Group – a body under the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, led by the US, Russia and France tasked with resolving the conflict.Mr Erdogan has criticised the Minsk Group – a body under the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, led by the US, Russia and France tasked with resolving the conflict.
He said the flare-up could have been avoided if the Minsk Group has taken “fair and decisive steps”.  He said the flare-up could have been avoided if the Minsk Group has taken “fair and decisive steps”.  
The unresolved conflict has been a blow to Armenia because Turkey has closed its border with Armenia.
Turkey is an ally of Azerbaijan, but does not have relations with Armenia due to a dispute over the mass killings of Armenians during the Ottoman era, which has been labelled as genocide – Turkey has denied this.
Additional reporting by Press AssociationAdditional reporting by Press Association