Damaged residential buildings and vehicles in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh. EPA
Damaged residential buildings and vehicles in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh. EPA
Damaged residential buildings and vehicles in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh. EPA
Damaged residential buildings and vehicles in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh. EPA

UN chief calls for immediate end to Nagorno-Karabakh bloodshed


  • English
  • Arabic

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate end to fighting in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, where Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing.

Mr Guterres called in the "strongest terms for an immediate end to the fighting, de-escalation and stricter observance of the 2020 ceasefire", said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

The EU, US, France and Russia have all appealed for calm in the disputed region, home to a majority ethnic Armenian population but internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.

Dozens have been killed and more than 7,000 evacuated from their homes in the latest fighting after Azerbaijan said it began a counter-terrorism operation in the region.

Baku's Defence Ministry said its military operation was continuing "successfully" on Wednesday, despite calls from Washington to stop the violence.

After months of rising tensions, Azerbaijan this week sent in troops backed by artillery strikes in an attempt to bring the breakaway region to heel.

Moscow, which acts as peacekeeper between the two, urged "the conflicting parties to immediately stop the bloodshed, stop hostilities and eliminate civilian casualties", Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the region, in the 1990s and in 2020.

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with the leaders of both Armenia and Azerbaijan, with French President Emmanuel Macron also speaking to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Mr Blinken urged Baku "to cease military actions in Nagorno-Karabakh immediately and de-escalate the situation" in a call with President Ilham Aliyev, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

Azerbaijan's presidency has said Armenia "must raise the white flag" or fighting with separatists will continue.

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 420 bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: from Dh293,200

On sale: now

Godzilla%20x%20Kong%3A%20The%20New%20Empire
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdam%20Wingard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBrian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Rebecca%20Hall%2C%20Dan%20Stevens%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Updated: September 20, 2023, 7:17 AM