Azerbaijan, Armenia accuse each other of violating fresh humanitarian truce

BAKU/YEREVAN - Azerbaijan and Armenia on Monday accused each other of violating the ceasefire newly brokered in Washington.

The two countries have agreed on a new humanitarian ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh region which took effect 0400 GMT Monday, according to a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia as well as US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun earlier in Washington.

However, shortly after the truce came into effect, the two sides broke the ceasefire and traded accusations and attacks with each other.

The defense ministry of Azerbaijan said in a Monday statement that the Armenian side had shelled several regions including Tovuz and Gadabay in Azerbaijan since Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Armenia's defense ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan accused Azerbaijani troops of opening artillery fire at the northeastern part of the Nagorno-Karabakh region soon after the ceasefire took effect.

Both sides denied accusations from the other party.

Monday's ceasefire agreement is the third within weeks. The two other agreements were reached on Oct 10 and Oct 17, but both sides blamed each other for not observing them.

A new round of armed conflict broke out on September 27 along the contact line of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at loggerheads over the mountainous region since 1988. Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a ceasefire was reached, but sporadic clashes have been taking place.