Despite Russia's efforts to force a cease-fire between Azerbaijan and Armenia, fighting continues in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. On Sunday, Azerbaijan accused Armenia of bombing several cities and towns - a violation of the Russia-brokered cease-fire.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said villages in the Aghdam, Terter, Aghjabedi and Fizuli regions, were in ruins after Armenian forces allegedly indiscriminately fired artillery rounds. The ministry has accused Armenia of firing missiles into its second-largest city of Ganja and Mingachevir last week.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called the shelling "war crimes" that would lead to immediate "retaliation." Officials said at least nine civilians were killed and more than 30 others wounded in Ganja.
Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh forces denied the allegations and said it had been observing the Russia-brokered cease-fire. Armenia protested the accusations, claiming it was Azerbaijan that violated the truce when it shelled parts of the Stepanakert region.
Both countries began exchanging artillery fire Sept. 27. The exchange has killed hundreds of civilians and military on both sides - making it the worst outbreak of hostilities in the region since the last conflict ended in 1994. At the center of the dispute is the Nagorno-Karabakh region where ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia are fighting Azerbaijan for territory.
On Saturday, foreign ministers from both sides had signed a cease-fire in Moscow following an invitation from Russia President Vladimir Putin. Over the past week, Putin has called on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to immediately end hostilities on humanitarian grounds. Under the agreement talks were to be held to discuss an end to the conflict.
Just 24 hours after the agreement was signed reports of violations emerged from both sides. Military officials said the region was "relatively calm" Sunday morning but hostilities continued throughout the rest of the day.
