Goris, Armenia, Oct 5 (AFP/APP):Clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces were raging on Monday over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region as fears grew for civilians after the two sides began shelling major cities. Separatist forces in Karabakh — an ethnic Armenian enclave that broke away from Azerbaijan in the 1990s — reported firefights along the frontline and the regional capital Stepanakert again coming under artillery fire. The region’s leadership said it had pulled back fighters in some areas of the frontline “for tactical purposes”, after Azerbaijan claimed separatist soldiers were fleeing their posts. Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said Armenian forces were shelling several towns, including the country’s second-largest city Ganja which was first hit on Sunday. Increasing artillery fire on urban areas has raised concerns of mass civilian casualties if the fierce fighting, which has already killed at least 260 people, continues to escalate. The clashes broke out on September 27, re-igniting a decades-old conflict between the ex-Soviet neighbours over Karabakh and threatening to draw in regional powers Russia and Turkey. Neither Azerbaijan nor Armenia, which supports the breakaway region, has shown any sign of backing down. They have ignored international calls for a ceasefire and a return to long-stalled negotiations on … Continue reading Fears grow for civilians as Karabakh fighting rages