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Azerbaijan's defense ministry denies relinquishment of retaken heights

Xinhua, April 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry on Wednesday refuted reports about the relinquishment of several strategic heights in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Some Armenian media said in earlier reports that the Azerbaijani side relinquished heights it had seized during recent hostilities.

Spokesman for Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry Vagif Dergakhly told local media that such reports were misinformation, saying the Azerbaijani army controlled all strategic heights it captured in the fighting.

He also confirmed that the Azerbaijani armed units were fortifying retaken heights.

Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed Tuesday to a cease-fire, which took effect at noon, after deadly clashes between forces of the two countries erupted overnight Saturday.

Baku and Yerevan have accused each other of provoking hostilities and conflicts.

The two countries have long been locked in a bitter dispute over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict over the region first broke out in 1988, when the enclave dominated by ethnic Armenians claimed independence from Azerbaijan and declared to join Armenia.

Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a cease-fire was reached, but there have been occasional minor clashes. Endi