Azerbaijani Armenia near war totals 24 deaths

Wars that broke out over the weekend continued Monday morning, Reuters agency reports. According to this agency, both sides of the conflict have made heavy artillery available.

The Nagorno-Karabakh region is recognised by the international community as part of Azerbaijan's territory, but it was divided in 1991 and controlled by Armenians.

Karabaku's president, Aaryik Harutyunyan, said 17 separatist Armenian fighters were killed and more than 100 others were injured during the fighting, acknowledging that his forces have lost their positions. Both sides have also reported civilian casualties.

Azerbaijan claimed to have taken control of a strategic mountain in Karabakh, which offers assistance in controlling transport lines between Yerevan and the enclave surrounded by Aser territory.

Armenia's Defence Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said Karabakh's rebel forces have killed about 200 militia troops, destroyed 30 enemy artillery units and 20 fears.

Combats with predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan and majority-Christian Armenia pose a danger to the involvement of regional powers such as Turkey and Russia.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikola Pasinyan on Sunday called on the world powers to prevent Turkey's intervention in the conflict, as it has sometimes threatened Armenia and has said it will offer support in any form of Azerbaijan.