UN concerned over possible war crimes in Karabakh

GENEVA

The UN rights chief said Monday that indiscriminate attacks on civilian settlements amid fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region could amount to war crimes.

"The parties to the conflict are obliged to effectively, promptly, thoroughly and impartially investigate such violations and to prosecute those alleged to have committed them," said United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

Bachelet said the attacks carried out indiscriminately against densely populated areas in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone are against international humanitarian law.

"International humanitarian law cannot be clearer," she added.

Since clashes broke out on Sept. 27, Armenia has repeatedly attacked Azerbaijani civilians and forces, even violating three humanitarian cease-fire agreements since Oct. 10.

To date, at least 91 civilians, including 11 children and 27 women, have been killed in Armenia's attacks, according to Azerbaijan's Chief Prosecutor's Office.

About 400 people have also been injured in the attacks, including at least 14 infants, 36 children and 101 women.

At least 2,442 homes, 92 apartment buildings and 428 public buildings have also been damaged and become unusable.

Relations between the two former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Upper Karabakh, or Nagorno-Karabakh, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Four UN Security Council resolutions and two from the UN General Assembly as well as international organizations demand the "immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces" from the occupied Azerbaijani territory.

About 20% of Azerbaijan's territory -- including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions -- has been under illegal Armenian occupation for nearly three decades.

A cease-fire, however, was agreed to in 1994.

World powers including Russia, France and the US have called for a sustainable cease-fire.

Turkey, meanwhile, has supported Baku's right to self-defense and demanded the withdrawal of Armenia's occupying forces.