Fighting in Karabakh region didn't stop - defense ministry of self-proclaimed Nagorny Karabakh republic
YEREVAN. April 3 (Interfax) - The military action in the Karabakh conflict zone continues, Senor Asratyan, press officer for the defense ministry of the self-proclaimed Nagorny Karabakh Republic told Interfax.
"The military action now continues," Asratyan said.
The Azeri Defense Ministry earlier said it had decided to unilaterally suspend military action.
"This decision was made with regard for requests from international structures and the state's peace-loving policy. The Azeri Armed Forces suspended the counter-attack and the response measures against the enemy and began strengthening the defense of the liberated territories," the report says.
"If the Armenian Armed Forces do not stop their prevocational activities and continue opening fire on residential areas and combat positions, the Azeri Armed Forces will continue offensive operations using all available means," the statement says.
The situation in the Karabakh conflict zone aggravated in the early hours of Saturday. The parties in conflict are accusing each other of ceasefire breaches.
Specifically, the Azeri Defense Ministry earlier said Azerbaijan had regained control over several heights and populated areas in Nagorny Karabakh. "Six Armenian tanks, 15 artillery systems and several fortified infrastructure facilities were destroyed and over 100 troops of the enemy were killed in the fighting," sources in Baku said.
The Defense Ministry also reports that 12 Azeri troops were killed. The report says that Azerbaijan lost one Mi-24 helicopter in the bombing of Armenian positions and one tank was destroyed after hitting a mine.
The Armenian Defense Ministry has denied the Azeri report on Armenian casualties and losses of military equipment and populated areas. "The reports that the Azeri military had taken over various points on the territory of Nagorny Karabakh and killed 100 Armenian troops are false," Armenian Defense Minister Artsrun Hovhannisyan said on Facebook.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said 18 Armenian troops were killed and 35 were injured in clashes with Azeri military in the early hours of Saturday and throughout Saturday.
Reports on another two wounded Karabakh troops came on Sunday.
