Azerbaijan and Armenia Trade Attacks

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/05/world/europe/azerbaijan-and-armenia-trade-attacks.html

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Azerbaijan and Armenia on Monday both reported more losses in a sharp escalation of fighting over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, with 18 soldiers now confirmed dead. The Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh and some adjacent territory have been under the control of Armenian soldiers and ethnic Armenian local troops since a separatist war ended in 1994. Both sides report frequent shootings and attempted raids along the cease-fire line, but the latest fighting has been the worst in many years. Russia, the United States and the European Union have all expressed concern and urged both sides to respect the cease-fire. “Retaliation and further violence will only make it more difficult to bring about a peaceful settlement,” said a State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki. Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said Monday that 13 soldiers were killed in the fighting that spiked over the weekend, while Nagorno-Karabakh’s armed forces said five of its soldiers were killed. Each side accused the other of being the aggressor.