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Armenia, Azerbaijan Trade Accusations for Violating Cease-fire

VOA News

   A thirdcease-fire inthe enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh seems to have
   collapsed Monday,againfailing to endfour weeks of fightingover the
   disputed territory.

   Armeniaand Azerbaijanaccused each otherofviolating theUS-brokeredtruce
   shortly after itenteredinto forceat8:00 am (0400 GMT)local time.

   Azerbaijan's foreign ministry saidin a statement thatArmenian forces
   had shelled villages intheTerterand Lachin regions in "gross violation"
   of the truce.

   Forits part,Armenia's defense ministryused similar
   language,sayingAzerbaijani forces had "grossly violated" the cease-fire
   with artillery firealongvarious parts ofthe line of contact.

   The U.S. State Department and the governments of Azerbaijan and
   Armeniaannounced the latest "humanitarian cease-fire" in a
   jointstatement Sunday.

   U.S. President Donald TrumptooktoTwittersaying: "Congratulations to
   Armenian Prime Minister NikolPashinyanand Azerbaijani President Ilham
   Aliyev, who just agreed to adhere to a cease fire effective at
   midnight. Many lives will be saved."

   U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweetalsoSunday that the
   U.S. facilitated "an intensive negotiation" and Armenian Foreign
   Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun
   Bayramov "have committed to implement and abide by the ceasefire."

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