Ceasefire strained

Yerevan/Baku: Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other yesterday of violating a humanitarian ceasefire agreed three days ago to quell fighting over NagornoKarabakh that has claimed hundreds of lives in the past two weeks.

Ethnic Armenian officials in Nagorno-Karabakh said their total military death toll was 542, up 17 from Monday when reports of fresh fighting drew appeals from Russia and European Union members to respect the truce.

Azerbaijan said 42 Azeri civilians had been killed and 206 wounded since September 27. It has not disclosed military casualties. — Reuters