Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of using shells containing chemicals against civilians
Xinhua, May 18, 2016 Adjust font size:
Azerbaijan on Tuesday urged the international community to condemn Armenia for the use of white phosphorus against Azerbaijani civilians and civilian facilities.
In clashes between the two countries' armed forces last month, Armenia used shells containing chemicals such as white phosphorus against civilians and civilian facilities in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
One of such shells has landed in a cotton field located in Eskipara village of Terter region, the statement said, adding that the chemical shell was found by Azerbaijan's National Agency for Mine Action on May 10.
"Military attaches of foreign embassies accredited in Azerbaijan have been immediately informed of the fact of the usage of such a weapon by Armenia against the Azerbaijani civilians," it said.
The case was observed and documented on May 11 during a visit to the village by 20 representatives and military attaches from 13 countries and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said the statement.
"The investigation has revealed that ammunition, which was fired by the armed forces of Armenia, is a D-4 type (smoke bomb) 122 mm artillery shell. It weights 27.07 kg and contains 3.6 kg of P4 (the chemical code of white phosphorus)," it added.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said that by using high-explosive white phosphorus, Armenia grossly violates its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.
So far, no immediate response was available from the Armenian side.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a bitter dispute over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988, when the enclave dominated by ethnic Armenians claimed independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.
Peace talks have been held since 1994 when a cease-fire was reached, but there have been occasional minor clashes.
In early April, new clashes took place on the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in casualties on both sides. Endi