Azerbaijan-Armenia war escalates: 18 dead

The United States, Russia and the European Union and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Monday expressed deep concern over a sharp escalation of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia for control of Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan and Armenia have both reported more losses in their war over the South Caucasus region with 18 soldiers now confirmed dead on both sides. Nagorno-Karabakh region and some adjacent territory have been under the control of Armenian soldiers and ethnic Armenian local troops since the end of a 6-year separatist war in 1994. Both sides report frequent shootings and attempted incursions along the ceasefire line, but the latest outbreak of fighting has been the worst in many years. The United States, Russia and the European Union and the UN secretary-general urged Azerbaijan and Armenia, the two former Soviet republics, to respect the ceasefire, according to AP.