Russia calls for ceasefire in Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict

A frame grab from handout video provided by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan allegedly shows an Armenian tank being destroyed by Azerbaijan's military at Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan. EPA

In this handout photo taken from a footage released by Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry, Azerbaijan's forces destroy Armenian anti-aircraft system at the contact line of the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. AP

In this photo released by the Armenian Foreign Ministry, a woman with her child sit in a bombshelter to protect against shelling, in Stepanakert, the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. AP

In this handout photo released by Armenian Foreign Ministry, an Armenian church priest looks a a baby in a bombshelter to protect against shelling in Stepanakert, the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. AP

In this photo released by the Armenian Foreign Ministry, people gather in a bombshelter to protect against shelling in Stepanakert, the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. AP

This handout photo released by Armenian Foreign Ministry, shows a damaged after shelling flat in Stepanakert, the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. AP

Volunteers and veterans, who are ready to go to the frontline in Nagorny Karabakh, gather in Yerevan. AFP

A handout photo released by the Armenian Foreign Ministry shows specialists delivering medical support to a man, who is said to be a civilian injured during clashes in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. REUTERS

A grab taken from a handout video released by the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) Defense Army, or Artsakh Defence Army, via Youtube claims to show tanks allegedly destroyed in shelling, artillery and air attacks along the front at Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, on a border of Armenia and Azerbaijan. EPA

A grab taken from a handout video released by the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) Defense Army, or Artsakh Defence Army, via Youtube claims to show Azerbaijani food rations in a tank allegedly destroyed in shelling, artillery and air attacks along the front at Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, on a border of Armenia and Azerbaijan. EPA

A handout photo made available by the Armenian Government Press Office shows Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan meeting with the military leaders in Yerevan, Armenia. EPA

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan meets with top military officials in Yerevan. AFP

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gives a speech at the parliament in Yerevan. AFP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for an immediate ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia on Sunday amid rising civilian casualties in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Mr Lavrov said Moscow was ready to help seek a solution to the conflict through the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

"The Russian side expressed concern in connection with the increase of casualties among the civilian population," the Foreign Ministry said after Mr Lavrov spoke with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.

The conflict, which has worsened over the past eight days, is the biggest escalation in years in the decades-long dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The breakaway region lies within Azerbaijan, but has been controlled by local ethnic Armenian forces since the early 1990s.

Both sides said the hostilities had spread beyond the territory and accused each other of attacking areas outside Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijan said on Sunday that Armenian forces had fired rockets at its second city of Ganja, killing one civilian and wounding four.

It and threatened to retaliate against military targets inside Armenia.

Armenia’s Defence Ministry said that “no fire of any kind is being opened from the territory of Armenia in Azerbaijan’s direction".

Nagorno-Karabakh’s leader, Arayik Harutyunyan, confirmed on Facebook he ordered “rocket attacks to neutralise military objects” in Ganja.

His spokesman, Vahram Poghosyan, said the territory’s army destroyed a military airport in Ganja, a claim Azerbaijani officials denied.

Armenian officials accused Azerbaijan of carrying out strikes on Stepanakert and its civilian population.

Mr Harutyunyan said that in response, his forces would target “military facilities permanently located in major cities of Azerbaijan.”

Nagorno-Karabakh officials have said nearly 200 servicemen on their side have died so far.

Azerbaijani authorities have not given details on their military casualties, but said 22 civilians were killed and 74 wounded.

The conflict shows little sign of slowing down.

Last week leaders of both countries resisted international pressure for talks.

On Sunday, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev demanded that Armenia set a timetable for withdrawing from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding Azeri territories, and said Azerbaijan would not cease military action until that happened.