Armenia-Azerbaijan: Both sides defy Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire calls

2020-10-01 14:48:42

Azerbaijan and Armenia have defied calls for a ceasefire after the worst fighting in decades between the two over a disputed territory. The US, France and Russia jointly condemned the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, in the southern Caucasus. But Turkey - an ally of Azerbaijan - dismissed demands for a ceasefire. Nagorno-Karabakh is officially part of Azerbaijan but governed by separatist ethnic Armenians. Years of negotiations have never resulted in a peace treaty. Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a war in 1988-94 over the territory. Armenia backs the self-declared republic but has never officially recognised it. Heavy shelling persisted overnight in the region's main city, despite mounting international concern.