Azerbaijani Deaths Trigger Clashes in Armenian Enclave

Two Azerbaijanis have been killed in the disputed southern Soviet territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, triggering clashes between Soviet Interior Ministry troops and Armenian nationalists that injured several people, the official news agency Tass said Wednesday.

One Soviet soldier also was abducted during the clashes, which erupted Tuesday night. Tass said unknown gunmen killed the Azerbaijanis near the village of Zabukh, in Nagorno-Karabakh, but it gave no other details.

Twenty Soviet troops were dispatched to the scene, and immediately came under fire from what Tass called “an 80-member group of Armenian terrorists.” Authorities dispatched 20 more troops, and a firefight continued until nightfall, Tass said.

“The attackers suffered casualties. One serviceman was abducted,” Tass reported without elaboration.

Armenians and Azerbaijanis have been clashing for nearly three years over control of the predominantly Armenian region lying within Azerbaijan. Armenia has demanded control, but Azerbaijan has refused, prompting strikes, boycotts and violence that has killed a number of people. Interior Ministry troops have been dispatched to maintain order.