The World - News from Aug. 13, 1989

At least 70,000 people waving nationalist flags and banners packed the central square in Baku, the capital of Soviet Azerbaijan, to demand greater autonomy and new parliamentary elections. The demonstration was organized by the republic’s fledgling Popular Front movement, which aims to promote economic and political autonomy from Moscow. Many participants waved red, green and white flags with a crescent and star, the national banner during Azerbaijan’s time as an independent republic from 1918 to 1920. Activists said their main demands are for an end to Moscow’s direct administration of the Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is also claimed by Armenia; more powers for the Azerbaijani Parliament, and new elections to the national Parliament.