New deaths as fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh keeps flaring

 Dely fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over separatist region of Nagor-Karabakh showed signs of abating Wednesday despite a US-brokered cease-fire that took force just two days ago and has so far failed to halt flare-up of a deces-old conflict.

Nagor-Karabakh officials said Azerbaijani forces hit Stepanakert, region's capital, and nearby town of Shushi with Smerch long-range multiple rocket systems, a devastating Soviet-designed weapon intended to rav wide areas with explosives and cluster munitions.

One civilian was killed in Shushi and two more were wounded, officials said.

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry rejected accusations and in turn accused Armenian forces in using Smerch multiple rocket system to fire at Azerbaijani towns of Terter and Barda.

strike on Barda killed 14 people and wounded over 40, Azerbaijani authorities said.

Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanian called accusations of striking Barda “groundless and false.” Nagor-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a war re ended in 1994.By n, Armenian forces t only held Nagor-Karabakh itself but also captured substantial areas outside territory's borders.

latest fighting, which began Sept. 27, has involved heavy artillery, rockets and drones, in largest escalation of hostilities over separatist region in quarter-century since war ended. Hundreds, and possibly thousands of people, have been killed in fighting. dely clashes continued for over a month despite numerous calls for peace and three attempts at establishing a ceasefire.

latest truce began Monday, after talks facilitated by United States, and came after two failed attempts by Russia to broker a lasting truce. All three cease-fire agreements were immediately challenged by reports of violations from both sides.

According to Nagor-Karabakh officials, 1,068 of ir troops and 39 civilians have been killed in clashes so far, while 122 civilians have been wounded. Azerbaijani authorities haven't disclosed ir military losses, but say fighting has killed 69 civilians and wounded 322.

Russian President Vlimir Putin said last week that, according to Moscow's information, death toll from fighting was nearing 5,000, significantly higher than what both sides report.