Newsroom24x7 Desk

Washington/Moscow: Azeri forces on Friday launched an attack in a bid to seize positions in the Nagarno-Karabakh region. In the intense fighting that has continued over the week between the two warring sides –  Armenia and Azerbaijan – at least 30 people, including civilians have been killed.

The separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region dominated by the ethnic Armenian people lies within Azerbaijan’s borders. It was  taken over by Armenia in a prolonged war that ended with the1994 cease-fire.

United States has condemned in the strongest terms the large-scale ceasefire violations along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact.

In a message, The US Secretary of State John Kerry said: “We extend our condolences to all affected families. We urge the sides to show restraint, avoid further escalation, and strictly adhere to the ceasefire. The unstable situation on the ground demonstrates why the sides must enter into an immediate negotiation under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.

We reiterate that there is no military solution to the conflict. As a co-chair country, the United States is firmly committed to working with the sides to reach a lasting and negotiated peace.”

Russia too has urged the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan to end fighting around the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region