Azerbaijani soldier killed by Armenian forces
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AFP) — An Azerbaijani soldier died and three Armenian troops were wounded on Friday in the latest military incident between the countries since their war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region last year.
The six-week war last autumn claimed about 6,500 lives and ended in November with a Russian-brokered ceasefire under which Armenia ceded territories it had controlled for decades.
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia have reported occasional shootouts in recent months along their shared border, sparking fears of a flare up in the territorial dispute.
"Armenian armed forces opened fire at Azerbaijani army positions at the Kelbajar sector of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border," Baku's defense ministry said in a statement.
"An Azerbaijani army serviceman was killed by the enemy's sniper," it said, adding that the shooting began around 4:00 p.m. (1200 GMT).
Armenia blamed the Azerbaijani military for initiating the incident, with its defence ministry saying "three Armenian servicemen were wounded in the intense shootout."
The clashes were continuing late in the evening, both countries reported.
"Shootout is under way at the Kelbajar sector of the state border. Azerbaijani army units are returning fire," Azerbaijan's defense ministry said.
Armenia's rights ombudsman Arman Tatoyan said on Facebook that the continued shootout "poses a real danger for life, health and other vital rights of the civilian population and destroys peace and security of civilians."