UN chief, US call for immediate end to Armenia-Azerbaijan fighting over Nagorny Karabakh

NEW YORK (AFP) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday (Sept 27) said he was "extremely concerned over the fresh resumption of hostilities" between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Armenia-backed breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh.

"The Secretary-General strongly calls on the sides to immediately stop fighting, de-escalate tensions and return to meaningful negotiations without delay," Guterres's spokesman said in a statement.

Guterres "condemns the use of force and regrets the loss of life and the toll on the civilian population," the statement said, adding that the secretary-general would speak to the president of Azerbaijan and the prime minister of Armenia.

The United States 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 Nagorny 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 on 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 spectre of a fresh war in the decades-long territorial dispute over Nagorny Karabakh.

Sixteen Armenian separatist fighters were killed and more than 100 wounded in fighting, rebel officials said. Both sides also reported civilian casualties.

France, Germany, Italy and the European Union also urged an immediate ceasefire, while Pope Francis prayed for peace.