Putin calls for end to Nagorno-Karabakh clashes

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an immediate end to recent clashes between Armenian-backed and Azerbaijani forces in the disputed Caucasus region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

On Saturday, the Russian president called for a ceasefire between the two sides after officials from Armenia and the Azerbaijan Republic announced the clashes and reported an unknown number of casualties.

"President Putin calls on the parties in the conflict to observe an immediate ceasefire and exercise restraint in order to prevent further casualties," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu have also reportedly held talks with their counterparts from Yerevan and Baku.

Azerbaijan said Saturday that Armenian forces had killed 12 of its soldiers and shot down a helicopter in fierce fighting between the arch-foes.

"Twelve Azeri servicemen were killed in action and a helicopter was shot down by Armenian forces," Azerbaijan's defense ministry said in a statement, also claiming that Azeri forces took control of "two strategic heights and a village" in Karabakh.

The statement also claimed that more than 100 Armenian forces had been killed or wounded. The ministry also claimed to have destroyed six Armenian tanks and 15 artillery positions.

Earlier in the day, authorities from both countries accused the other side of provoking the violence which started over night Friday.

Armenian forces said they shot down a helicopter belonging to Azerbaijan, a claim immediately rejected by Baku.

SS