Serious escalation of situation around the Karabakh conflict zone. Azerbaijani Air Force flies over line of contact as situation on the ground gets more tense.

Updated at 1030 GMT on Friday 24 January 2014

There has been a serious escalation in the situation on the line of contact separating Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the last twenty four hours. Azerbaijani military sources say they have taken out an Armenian vehicle and have prevented an Armenian incursion near the Teter sector of the line of contact this morning. They also report that the Azerbaijani Air Force has flown over the line of contact in the last hours. Both sides report that civilians have been injured in the cross fire.

A spokesman for the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence told the news agency APA that the Azerbaijani military had foiled an attempt by an Armenian group "to cross the contact line in Terter region, between Gapanli and Seysulan settlements on January 24 at 06:00" (02.00 GMT). The source also told the news agency that the Azerbaijani military had monitored the communication of the group in their advance and in retreat, and that orders were given in Armenian and "in another language".

In a separate incident Azerbaijan has said that it had taken out an Armenian military vehicle near the Tovuz sector of the line of contact this morning.

The spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence also confirmed that aircraft of the Azerbaijani Air force have been flying over the line of contact throughout the morning in response to the increased tension.

In the meantime both sides are saying that civilians have been caught in the crossfire.

The escalation in the situation on the line of contact coincides with a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan that is due to take place in Paris today.

Commonspace.eu will bring you updates of the situation on the line of contact and from the Paris meeting, as we get them.

source: commonspace.eu with agencies.

photo: an image from the Karabakh conflict zone (archive picture)

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