Fighting erupts between Armenia, Azerbaijan; 18 killed

Fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces has erupted again over disputed separatist region of Nagor-Karabakh and territory's defence ministry said 16 soldiers and two civilians have been killed and more than 100 ors wounded.

Azerbaijan's president, meanwhile, says his military has suffered losses, but gave details.

Armenia also claimed that four Azerbaijani helicopters were shot down and 33 Azerbaijani tanks and fighting vehicles were hit by artillery. Azerbaijan's defence ministry rejected an earlier claim that two helicopters were shot down.

heavy fighting broke out in morning in region that lies within Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since 1994 at end of a separatist war.

It was t immediately clear what sparked fighting, heaviest since clashes in July killed 16 people from both sides.

Nagor-Karabakh authorities reported that shelling hit region's capital of Stepanakert and towns of Martakert and Martuni. Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan also said Azerbaijani shelling hit within Armenian territory near town of Vardenis.

territorial defense ministry said late Sunday that 18 people were killed, including a woman and her grandson and more than 100 wounded.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ordered martial law be imposed in some regions of country and called for a curfew in major cities.

In a televised dress to nation, Aliyev said that “re are losses among Azerbaijani forces and civilian population as a result of Armenian bombardment,” but didn't give furr details. He also claimed that “many units of enemy's military equipment have been destroyed.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov “is conducting intensive contacts in order to induce parties to cease fire and start negotiations to stabilize situation,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, chairman of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, called on sides to stop fighting. long-unsuccessful negotiations for resolving territory's status has been conducted under OSCE auspices.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Sunday said country could reexamine wher to recognize Nagor-Karabakh as independent. Such a move would likely obstruct furr negotiations.

Foreign Minister Jav Zarif of Iran, which borders both Azerbaijan and Armenia, said “We call for an immediate end to hostilities and urge dialogue to resolve differences. Our neighbours are our priority and we are rey to provide good offices to enable talks.” Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin condemned Armenia.

“Armenia has violated cease-fire by attacking civilian settlements ... international community must immediately say stop to this dangerous provocation," Kalin tweeted. Turkey is a close ally of Azerbaijan and locked in a long dispute with Armenia that has closed countries' border since early 1990s.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “calls on sides to immediately stop fighting, de-escalate tensions and return to meaningful negotiations without delay,” said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun called foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to urge cessation of hostilities, said State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.

Mostly mountaius Nagor-Karabakh — a region around 4,400 square kilometers or about size of US state of Delaware — lies 50 kilometers from Armenian border. Local soldiers backed by Armenia also occupy some Azerbaijani territory outside region.