Nagorno-Karabakh Cease-Fire Readied
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh moved toward agreement Friday on a cease-fire in the 6-year-old war over control of the Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan.
The Itar-Tass news agency said the accord was reached in Moscow during talks mediated by Russian Defense Minister Pavel S. Grachev. A protocol was signed by the defense ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan and a negotiator from the enclave.
The protocol must still be signed by the political leadership of the three sides before it can be implemented and a date set for the truce to begin.
More than 15,000 people have been killed and 1 million have become refugees in the battle for control of Nagorno-Karabakh after the mainly Armenian population of the enclave began a campaign for independence in 1988.
Defense officials in Nagorno-Karabakh reported heavy fighting Friday after Armenian troops repelled an Azerbaijani offensive in the Omar Pass region of the mountainous enclave.
The officials said Azerbaijan suffered hundreds of casualties, and Armenian forces were in complete control of the area.
Both sides routinely exaggerate the losses of the other, and the figures could not be independently confirmed.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
