WASHINGTON: US on Sunday joined global calls for Armenia and Azerbaijan to end deadly clashes that have erupted in the decades-long dispute over the Armenia-backed breakaway region of Nagorno Karabakh.
The US State Department said it had contacted the two countries “to urge both sides to cease hostilities immediately, to use the existing direct communication links between them to avoid further escalation, and to avoid unhelpful rhetoric and actions.”
Arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of initiating clashes Sunday that claimed at least 23 lives and threatened to draw in regional powers Russia and Turkey.
“The United States believes participation in the escalating violence by external parties would be deeply unhelpful and only exacerbate regional tensions,” the US statement added.
The worst clashes since 2016 have raised the specter of a fresh war in the decades-long territorial dispute over Nagorno Karabakh.
Sixteen Armenian separatist fighters were killed and more than 100 wounded in fighting, rebel officials said.
Both sides also reported civilian casualties.
The United Nations, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union also urged an immediate ceasefire.

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