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AZERBAIJAN SAYS REPELS ARMENIAN CROSS-BORDER RAID
Agence France Presse
January 22, 2014 Wednesday 8:16 AM GMT
BAKU, Jan 22 2014
Azerbaijan on Wednesday said it had repelled a cross-border raid by
Armenian forces in the latest outbreak of violence over the disputed
Nagorny Karabakh region.
"During the night an Armenian commando reconnaissance team tried to
cross the line of contact in the southwestern sector of the frontline,"
Azerbaijan's defence ministry said in a statement.
"The attempt to cross the line of contact was prevented and the group
was forced to retreat after sustaining casualties," the statement said.
On Monday, officials from the Armenian-backed breakaway republic
said that one soldier from the separatist forces was killed during
a thwarted cross-border attack by Azerbaijani forces.
Armenia-backed separatists seized Nagorny Karabakh from Azerbaijan in
a 1990s war that killed 30,000 people. Despite years of negotiations
since a 1994 ceasefire, the two sides have still not signed a peace
deal.
Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the disputed region by force
if negotiations do not yield results, while Armenia has vowed to
retaliate against any military action.
Around 20 soldiers from both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides were
reportedly killed last year.
eg-del/zak/dh
Agence France Presse
January 22, 2014 Wednesday 8:16 AM GMT
BAKU, Jan 22 2014
Azerbaijan on Wednesday said it had repelled a cross-border raid by
Armenian forces in the latest outbreak of violence over the disputed
Nagorny Karabakh region.
"During the night an Armenian commando reconnaissance team tried to
cross the line of contact in the southwestern sector of the frontline,"
Azerbaijan's defence ministry said in a statement.
"The attempt to cross the line of contact was prevented and the group
was forced to retreat after sustaining casualties," the statement said.
On Monday, officials from the Armenian-backed breakaway republic
said that one soldier from the separatist forces was killed during
a thwarted cross-border attack by Azerbaijani forces.
Armenia-backed separatists seized Nagorny Karabakh from Azerbaijan in
a 1990s war that killed 30,000 people. Despite years of negotiations
since a 1994 ceasefire, the two sides have still not signed a peace
deal.
Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the disputed region by force
if negotiations do not yield results, while Armenia has vowed to
retaliate against any military action.
Around 20 soldiers from both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides were
reportedly killed last year.
eg-del/zak/dh