US President Joe Biden is preparing to recognise the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Empire in World War I era as genocide, as per reports in US media. This move is sure to create tension between the US and its NATO ally Turkey.

Turkey vehemently rejects such a designation but it has already been adopted by dozens of other countries including France and Russia.

It is expected that Biden will announce the designation on Saturday, as per New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Saturday also marks 106th anniversary of the mass killings that began in 1915, when the Ottoman Empire was battling Tsarist Russia during World War I in the region that is now Armenia.

The move would make Biden the first US president to explicitly call the killings a genocide, and although the historic designation would carry no legal consequences it would infuriate Ankara, which insists there was no genocide and that both sides committed atrocities during the war.

The reports came after more than 100 members of Congress, led by Adam Schiff, the Democratic chair of the House Intelligence Committee, wrote to the president urging him to make good on a campaign promise to recognize the genocide.

The US Congress formally recognized the killings as genocide in December 2019 in a symbolic vote. 
"For decades, while leaders around the world recognize the first genocide of the 20th century, the president of the United States has remained silent," the letter said.

"Mr President, as you said last year in your April 24 statement, 'Silence is complicity.' The shameful silence of the United States government on the historic fact of the Armenian Genocide has gone on for too long, and it must end," the letter said.

After the Dutch parliament passed a motion in February urging the government to recognize the genocide, Turkey said the move was "aimed at rewriting history based on political motives."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden is preparing to recognise the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Empire in World War I era as genocide, as per reports in US media.

US President Joe Biden is preparing to recognise the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Empire in World War I era as genocide, as per reports in US media. This move is sure to create tension between the US and its NATO ally Turkey. Turkey vehemently rejects such a designation but it has already been adopted by dozens of other countries including France and Russia. It is expected that Biden will announce the designation on Saturday, as per New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Saturday also marks 106th anniversary of the mass killings that began in 1915, when the Ottoman Empire was battling Tsarist Russia during World War I in the region that is now Armenia. The move would make Biden the first US president to explicitly call the killings a genocide, and although the historic designation would carry no legal consequences it would infuriate Ankara, which insists there was no genocide and that both sides committed atrocities during the war. The reports came after more than 100 members of Congress, led by Adam Schiff, the Democratic chair of the House Intelligence Committee, wrote to the president urging him to make good on a campaign promise to recognize the genocide. The US Congress formally recognized the killings as genocide in December 2019 in a symbolic vote. "For decades, while leaders around the world recognize the first genocide of the 20th century, the president of the United States has remained silent," the letter said. "Mr President, as you said last year in your April 24 statement, 'Silence is complicity.' The shameful silence of the United States government on the historic fact of the Armenian Genocide has gone on for too long, and it must end," the letter said. After the Dutch parliament passed a motion in February urging the government to recognize the genocide, Turkey said the move was "aimed at rewriting history based on political motives." (With inputs from agencies)

Biden to recognise WW-I massacre of Armenians as genocide: Reports

Armenia's embattled prime minister on Sunday confirmed that he will step down from the post in April in order to allow for an early parliamentary election.&nbsp;

Nikol Pashinyan has faced weeks of protests calling for his ouster in the wake of Armenia's defeat in last year's war with Azerbaijan.&nbsp;

In a move to defuse the political crisis, Pashinyan two weeks ago announced that an early election would be held on June 20. Under Armenian law, such elections can be held after a premier resigns and the parliament fails twice to choose a new one.&nbsp;

"I will resign in April, not to leave power, but to hold early parliamentary elections. I will continue to act as prime minister and head of the Cabinet," Pashinyan said on Sunday in a meeting with residents of the village of Aragats. He didn't give a specific date for stepping down.&nbsp;

Armenia has been gripped by political tensions after suffering a humiliating defeat last year in an armed conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory within Azerbaijan that Armenia-backed separatists controlled for more than 25 years.&nbsp;

Pashinyan signed a peace deal in November that ceded parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and large swaths of adjacent Armenian-controlled territory. He defends the move as the only way to have prevented Azerbaijan from taking the entire region.&nbsp;

Pashinyan has retained significant public backing despite the defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh, with thousands rallying in his support to counter the opposition-led pressure for his resignation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Armenia's embattled prime minister on Sunday confirmed that he will step down from the post in April in order to allow for an early parliamentary election. Nikol Pashinyan has faced weeks of protests calling for his ouster in the wake of Armenia's defeat in last year's war with Azerbaijan.

Armenia's embattled prime minister on Sunday confirmed that he will step down from the post in April in order to allow for an early parliamentary election. Nikol Pashinyan has faced weeks of protests calling for his ouster in the wake of Armenia's defeat in last year's war with Azerbaijan. In a move to defuse the political crisis, Pashinyan two weeks ago announced that an early election would be held on June 20. Under Armenian law, such elections can be held after a premier resigns and the parliament fails twice to choose a new one. "I will resign in April, not to leave power, but to hold early parliamentary elections. I will continue to act as prime minister and head of the Cabinet," Pashinyan said on Sunday in a meeting with residents of the village of Aragats. He didn't give a specific date for stepping down. Armenia has been gripped by political tensions after suffering a humiliating defeat last year in an armed conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory within Azerbaijan that Armenia-backed separatists controlled for more than 25 years. Pashinyan signed a peace deal in November that ceded parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and large swaths of adjacent Armenian-controlled territory. He defends the move as the only way to have prevented Azerbaijan from taking the entire region. Pashinyan has retained significant public backing despite the defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh, with thousands rallying in his support to counter the opposition-led pressure for his resignation. (With inputs from agencies)

Armenia PM confirms he will step down in April to allow election 

Tensions between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the country’s army reignited after PM Pashinyan relieved the country's Chief of General Staff Onik Gasparyan of his duties.

Armenia: PM Pashinyan fires army chief amid coup fears

Residents in Armenia struggle to the new frontline as many parts have been handed over to Azerbaijan. An agreement, brokered by Russia, has meant a return to an internationally recognised border between the Armenia-Azerbaijan that for decades had existed only on paper. WION tells you more.

Armenia: Residents struggle to adjust to the new frontline

A crowd of Armenian protesters forced their way into a government building in Armenia's capital Yerevan on Monday, as per a report by RIA news agency quoted by Reuters. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has come under tremendous pressure from the people and the establishment after the country had to go on backfoot following its clash with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Pashinyan last week condemned what he said was an attempted coup after the army demanded he quit. Pashinyan has faced calls for resignation before, but this is the first time army has publicly called for his resignation.&nbsp;

Armenian PM has found himself increasingly cornered. Currently, there is a standoff between him and Armenia President Armen Sarkissian

Pashinyan dismissed Chief of General Staff Onik Gasparyan on February 25, but his sacking needed the formal approval of the president - who rejected the move as unconstitutional and said the army should be kept out of politics.

After president's refusal to approve the sacking of army chief, hundreds of protesters erupted in joy in the centre of Yerevan on February 27.

(With Reuters inputs)

A crowd of Armenian protesters forced their way into a government building in Armenia's capital Yerevan on Monday, as per a report by RIA news agency quoted by Reuters.

A crowd of Armenian protesters forced their way into a government building in Armenia's capital Yerevan on Monday, as per a report by RIA news agency quoted by Reuters. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has come under tremendous pressure from the people and the establishment after the country had to go on backfoot following its clash with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh region. Pashinyan last week condemned what he said was an attempted coup after the army demanded he quit. Pashinyan has faced calls for resignation before, but this is the first time army has publicly called for his resignation. Armenian PM has found himself increasingly cornered. Currently, there is a standoff between him and Armenia President Armen Sarkissian Pashinyan dismissed Chief of General Staff Onik Gasparyan on February 25, but his sacking needed the formal approval of the president - who rejected the move as unconstitutional and said the army should be kept out of politics. After president's refusal to approve the sacking of army chief, hundreds of protesters erupted in joy in the centre of Yerevan on February 27. (With Reuters inputs)

Armenian protesters enter government building to demand PM's resignation: Report

Armenia's President Armen Sarkisian has refused to sign Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's order dismissing the chief of the military's general staff, deepening the country's political crisis.

Armenian president refuses to sign PM's order dismissing army chief

The Armenian opposition carried out a mega rally demanding the resignation of the incumbent PM Nikol Pashinyan. According to them, he was responsible for the failure in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Massive protests continue to rock Armenia

Armenia's President Armen Sarkisian has refused to sign the prime minister's order dismissing the chief of the military's general staff, deepening the country's political crisis.

"The president of the republic, within the framework of his constitutional powers, returned the draft decree with objections," the presidency said in a statement on Saturday, adding that the crisis "cannot be resolved through frequent personnel changes".

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused the military of a coup attempt on Thursday and tried to sack the chief of staff, after the army issued a written statement calling for him to resign.

On Friday, hundreds of demonstrators rallied in the capital Yerevan to demand his downfall, and a leading opposition figure called on the army to rebel against him. Two former presidents have already said he must step down. He has faced calls to quit since November from countrymen who blame him for a disastrous six-week war that saw ethnic Armenian forces lose swathes of territory in neighbouring Azerbaijan they had held for decades.

Pashinyan told his supporters on Thursday he was firing Onik Gasparyan, the chief of the army's general staff. But by Friday the dismissal had not yet been approved by the president, a step needed for it to enter force.

President Armen Sarkissian held a meeting with Gasparyan. Vazgen Manukyan, a politician who has been touted by the opposition as a possible interim prime minister to replace Pashinyan, told hundreds of supporters at a rally that the army would never allow Gasparyan to be sacked.

Pashinyan, a former journalist and lawmaker, came to power in a peaceful popular uprising in May 2018 known as Armenia's velvet revolution. But the loss of territory in and around the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh last year was a bitter blow for Armenians, who had won control of the area in the 1990s in a war which killed at least 30,000 people.

The conflict was brought to a halt by a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia. Moscow, which has deployed peacekeepers to enforce the ceasefire, said on Friday it was vital the agreements be fully implemented despite Armenia's crisis.

(with inputs from agencies)

Armenia's President Armen Sarkisian has refused to sign the prime minister's order dismissing the chief of the military's general staff, deepening the country's political crisis.

Armenia's President Armen Sarkisian has refused to sign the prime minister's order dismissing the chief of the military's general staff, deepening the country's political crisis. "The president of the republic, within the framework of his constitutional powers, returned the draft decree with objections," the presidency said in a statement on Saturday, adding that the crisis "cannot be resolved through frequent personnel changes". Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused the military of a coup attempt on Thursday and tried to sack the chief of staff, after the army issued a written statement calling for him to resign. On Friday, hundreds of demonstrators rallied in the capital Yerevan to demand his downfall, and a leading opposition figure called on the army to rebel against him. Two former presidents have already said he must step down. He has faced calls to quit since November from countrymen who blame him for a disastrous six-week war that saw ethnic Armenian forces lose swathes of territory in neighbouring Azerbaijan they had held for decades. Pashinyan told his supporters on Thursday he was firing Onik Gasparyan, the chief of the army's general staff. But by Friday the dismissal had not yet been approved by the president, a step needed for it to enter force. President Armen Sarkissian held a meeting with Gasparyan. Vazgen Manukyan, a politician who has been touted by the opposition as a possible interim prime minister to replace Pashinyan, told hundreds of supporters at a rally that the army would never allow Gasparyan to be sacked. Pashinyan, a former journalist and lawmaker, came to power in a peaceful popular uprising in May 2018 known as Armenia's velvet revolution. But the loss of territory in and around the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh last year was a bitter blow for Armenians, who had won control of the area in the 1990s in a war which killed at least 30,000 people. The conflict was brought to a halt by a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia. Moscow, which has deployed peacekeepers to enforce the ceasefire, said on Friday it was vital the agreements be fully implemented despite Armenia's crisis. (with inputs from agencies)

Several thousand opposition supporters continued to march through the capital of Armenia on Friday to demand Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation over his handling of last year's war with Azerbaijan.

Protesters flooded the streets of central Yerevan, waving Armenian flags and chanting anti-government slogans, hours before a planned meeting with the ex-Soviet country's president.

The small South Caucasus nation plunged Thursday into a fresh political crisis as Pashinyan defied calls to resign, accused the military of an attempted coup and rallied over 20,000 supporters in Yerevan.

The crisis spilled into a second day after Pashinyan's critics spent the night, then blocked streets near the parliament building in preparation for Friday's rally.&nbsp;

The march led them to the presidency and then to the prime minister's residence, ahead of a meeting with President Armen Sarkisian at 15:40 local time (1140 GMT).

Pashinyan has said he is ready to start talks with the opposition to defuse tensions, but also threatened to arrest any opponents if they violate the law.

The prime minister has faced fierce criticism since he signed a peace deal brokered by Russia that ended the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian region that broke from Azerbaijan's control during a war in the early 1990s.

Fresh fighting erupted over the region in late September with Azerbaijani forces backed by ally Turkey making steady gains.

After six weeks of clashes and bombardments that claimed some 6,000 lives, a ceasefire agreement was signed that handed over significant territory to Azerbaijan and allowed for the deployment of Russian peacekeepers.

The agreement was seen as a national humiliation for many in Armenia, though Pashinyan has said he had no choice but to agree or see his country's forces suffer even bigger losses.

Armenia's military had backed Pashinyan for months, but on Thursday the military's general staff joined calls for him to step down, saying in a statement that he and his cabinet were "not capable of taking adequate decisions".

France, meanwhile, on Friday urged talks based on the legitimacy of President Armen Sarkisian, who holds a largely ceremonial role but has vowed to resolve this crisis peacefully, and Pashinyan himself.

(with inputs from agencies)

Several thousand opposition supporters continued to march through the capital of Armenia on Friday to demand Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation over his handling of last year's war with Azerbaijan.

Several thousand opposition supporters continued to march through the capital of Armenia on Friday to demand Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation over his handling of last year's war with Azerbaijan. Protesters flooded the streets of central Yerevan, waving Armenian flags and chanting anti-government slogans, hours before a planned meeting with the ex-Soviet country's president. The small South Caucasus nation plunged Thursday into a fresh political crisis as Pashinyan defied calls to resign, accused the military of an attempted coup and rallied over 20,000 supporters in Yerevan. The crisis spilled into a second day after Pashinyan's critics spent the night, then blocked streets near the parliament building in preparation for Friday's rally. The march led them to the presidency and then to the prime minister's residence, ahead of a meeting with President Armen Sarkisian at 15:40 local time (1140 GMT). Pashinyan has said he is ready to start talks with the opposition to defuse tensions, but also threatened to arrest any opponents if they violate the law. The prime minister has faced fierce criticism since he signed a peace deal brokered by Russia that ended the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian region that broke from Azerbaijan's control during a war in the early 1990s. Fresh fighting erupted over the region in late September with Azerbaijani forces backed by ally Turkey making steady gains. After six weeks of clashes and bombardments that claimed some 6,000 lives, a ceasefire agreement was signed that handed over significant territory to Azerbaijan and allowed for the deployment of Russian peacekeepers. The agreement was seen as a national humiliation for many in Armenia, though Pashinyan has said he had no choice but to agree or see his country's forces suffer even bigger losses. Armenia's military had backed Pashinyan for months, but on Thursday the military's general staff joined calls for him to step down, saying in a statement that he and his cabinet were "not capable of taking adequate decisions". France, meanwhile, on Friday urged talks based on the legitimacy of President Armen Sarkisian, who holds a largely ceremonial role but has vowed to resolve this crisis peacefully, and Pashinyan himself. (with inputs from agencies)

Thousands continue to march in Armenia to demand PM's resignation

The Kremlin on Friday said Armenia should comply with agreements reached with Azerbaijan after last year's Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, despite the political upheaval in Armenia, with the army on Thursday demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation.&nbsp;

Thousands rallied behind Pashinyan after the army's written demand plunged the impoverished former Soviet republic of less than three million into a new political crisis in what he said was an attempted coup.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Pashinyan also asked his supporters to gather at the centre of the capital Yerevan.&nbsp;

"I consider the statement of the General Staff of the Armed Forces an attempted military coup. I invite all of our supporters to Republic Square right now," Pashinyan wrote in a Facebook post. &nbsp;

Pashinyan also sacked the general staff of armed forces Onik Gasparyan after the latter's office released a statement asking the prime minister and his cabinet to resign on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Gasparyan on Wednesday in a statement said that Pashinyan's government is 'not capable of taking adequate decisions' and denounced 'attacks by the authorities aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces.'&nbsp;

On Wednesday, the Armenian PM also fired deputy chief of staff Tigran Khachatryan, who had ridiculed Pashinyan's claims that Russian-supplied missiles had failed to reach targets during last year's intense battle over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.&nbsp;

Pashinyan and his government have faced massive anger and protests over the handling of the war with Azerbaijan over the conflicted region, building pressure on him to step down. &nbsp;

The massive anger is against the Russian-brokered peace deal that ended six weeks of war and ceded large territories of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.&nbsp;

The Kremlin on Friday said Armenia should comply with agreements reached with Azerbaijan after last year's Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, despite the political upheaval in Armenia, with the army on Thursday demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation.

The Kremlin on Friday said Armenia should comply with agreements reached with Azerbaijan after last year's Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, despite the political upheaval in Armenia, with the army on Thursday demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation. Thousands rallied behind Pashinyan after the army's written demand plunged the impoverished former Soviet republic of less than three million into a new political crisis in what he said was an attempted coup. Meanwhile, Pashinyan also asked his supporters to gather at the centre of the capital Yerevan. "I consider the statement of the General Staff of the Armed Forces an attempted military coup. I invite all of our supporters to Republic Square right now," Pashinyan wrote in a Facebook post. Pashinyan also sacked the general staff of armed forces Onik Gasparyan after the latter's office released a statement asking the prime minister and his cabinet to resign on Wednesday. Gasparyan on Wednesday in a statement said that Pashinyan's government is 'not capable of taking adequate decisions' and denounced 'attacks by the authorities aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces.' On Wednesday, the Armenian PM also fired deputy chief of staff Tigran Khachatryan, who had ridiculed Pashinyan's claims that Russian-supplied missiles had failed to reach targets during last year's intense battle over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Pashinyan and his government have faced massive anger and protests over the handling of the war with Azerbaijan over the conflicted region, building pressure on him to step down. The massive anger is against the Russian-brokered peace deal that ended six weeks of war and ceded large territories of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

Kremlin says Armenia should comply with Karabakh ceasefire agreements

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday called the armed forces announcement demanding his resignation an "attempted military coup".&nbsp;

He also asked his supporters to gather in the centre of the capital Yerevan.

"I consider the statement of the General Staff of the Armed Forces an attempted military coup. I invite all of our supporters to Republic Square right now,"&nbsp;Pashinyan wrote in a Facebook post.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armenians-take-to-the-streets-to-call-for-pms-resignation-365099">Armenians take to the streets to call for PM's resignation</a>

Pashinyan also sacked the general staff of armed forces Onik Gasparyan after the latter's office released a statement asking the prime minister and his cabinet to resign on Wednesday.

Gasparyan on Wednesday in a statement said that Pashinyan's government is "not capable of taking adequate decisions" and denounced "attacks by the authorities aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces." 
&nbsp; 
On Wednesday, the Armenian PM also fired deputy chief of staff Tigran Khachatryan, who had ridiculed Pashinyan's claims that Russian-supplied missiles had failed to reach targets during last year's intense battle over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Pashinyan and his government have faced massive anger and protests over the handling of the war with Azerbaijan over the conflicted region, building pressure on him to step down.&nbsp;

The massive anger is against the Russian-brokered peace deal that ended six weeks of war and ceded large territories of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

&nbsp;

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday called the armed forces announcement demanding his resignation an "attempted military coup". He also asked his supporters to gather in the centre of the capital Yerevan.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday called the armed forces announcement demanding his resignation an "attempted military coup". He also asked his supporters to gather in the centre of the capital Yerevan. "I consider the statement of the General Staff of the Armed Forces an attempted military coup. I invite all of our supporters to Republic Square right now," Pashinyan wrote in a Facebook post. Also read | Armenians take to the streets to call for PM's resignation Pashinyan also sacked the general staff of armed forces Onik Gasparyan after the latter's office released a statement asking the prime minister and his cabinet to resign on Wednesday. Gasparyan on Wednesday in a statement said that Pashinyan's government is "not capable of taking adequate decisions" and denounced "attacks by the authorities aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces." On Wednesday, the Armenian PM also fired deputy chief of staff Tigran Khachatryan, who had ridiculed Pashinyan's claims that Russian-supplied missiles had failed to reach targets during last year's intense battle over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Pashinyan and his government have faced massive anger and protests over the handling of the war with Azerbaijan over the conflicted region, building pressure on him to step down. The massive anger is against the Russian-brokered peace deal that ended six weeks of war and ceded large territories of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

Armenian PM slams attempted 'military coup'; armed forces chief sacked

Hundreds of demonstrators blocked the main streets of the Armenian capital Yerevan on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his handling of a conflict with Azerbaijan last year.

Fighting erupted between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces on Sept. 27 and ended on Nov. 10 when a Russian-brokered peace deal introduced a ceasefire. Thousands were killed in the most bloody fighting in the region since the early 1990s.

Facing pressure to resign after ethnic Armenians lost swathes of territory, Pashinyan announced a road map he said was designed to shore up national stability and security.

Pashinyan has rejected calls to resign but said he was fully responsible for the outcome of the conflict and remained responsible for ensuring Armenia`s security.

Protesters chanted "Nikol is a traitor!", "Armenia without Nikol!" and blocked some streets after an opposition rally on Freedom Square in the heart of Yerevan on Saturday.

"It doesn`t matter how many people gather on the square, Nikol Pashinyan will not resign voluntarily," opposition leader Vazgen Manukyan told a crowd of protesters waving Armenian flags under a light snowfall.

Ishkhan Saghatelyan, an opposition politician, said more street protests were planned for Monday.

Hundreds of demonstrators blocked the main streets of the Armenian capital Yerevan on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his handling of a conflict with Azerbaijan last year.

Hundreds of demonstrators blocked the main streets of the Armenian capital Yerevan on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his handling of a conflict with Azerbaijan last year. Fighting erupted between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces on Sept. 27 and ended on Nov. 10 when a Russian-brokered peace deal introduced a ceasefire. Thousands were killed in the most bloody fighting in the region since the early 1990s. Facing pressure to resign after ethnic Armenians lost swathes of territory, Pashinyan announced a road map he said was designed to shore up national stability and security. Pashinyan has rejected calls to resign but said he was fully responsible for the outcome of the conflict and remained responsible for ensuring Armenia`s security. Protesters chanted "Nikol is a traitor!", "Armenia without Nikol!" and blocked some streets after an opposition rally on Freedom Square in the heart of Yerevan on Saturday. "It doesn`t matter how many people gather on the square, Nikol Pashinyan will not resign voluntarily," opposition leader Vazgen Manukyan told a crowd of protesters waving Armenian flags under a light snowfall. Ishkhan Saghatelyan, an opposition politician, said more street protests were planned for Monday.

Armenians take to the streets to call for PM's resignation

Russia and Turkey Saturday opened a joint centre to observe a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh that was agreed upon following a flare-up between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the conflict in the region last year.

The centre, which both countries agreed to set up in November, was officially opened in the Agdam region of Azerbaijan. It will be staffed by up to 60 servicemen each from Turkey and from Russia, the Azeri defence ministry said in a statement.

After six weeks of fighting, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Russia-brokered ceasefire for the enclave, which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but mainly populated by ethnic Armenians.

Turkey said on Friday that one Turkish general and 38 personnel will work at the centre.

The Russian defence ministry, to this end, said that "monitoring will be carried out through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as the evaluation of data received from other sources".

Turkey backs Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, and has criticised the co-chairs of the OSCE's so-called Minsk Group -- led by the United States, France and Russia -- for not resolving the long-running conflict in decades of mediation.&nbsp;

Russia and Turkey Saturday opened a joint centre to observe a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh that was agreed upon following a flare-up between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the conflict in the region last year.

Russia and Turkey Saturday opened a joint centre to observe a ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh that was agreed upon following a flare-up between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the conflict in the region last year. The centre, which both countries agreed to set up in November, was officially opened in the Agdam region of Azerbaijan. It will be staffed by up to 60 servicemen each from Turkey and from Russia, the Azeri defence ministry said in a statement. After six weeks of fighting, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Russia-brokered ceasefire for the enclave, which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but mainly populated by ethnic Armenians. Turkey said on Friday that one Turkish general and 38 personnel will work at the centre. The Russian defence ministry, to this end, said that "monitoring will be carried out through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as the evaluation of data received from other sources". Turkey backs Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, and has criticised the co-chairs of the OSCE's so-called Minsk Group -- led by the United States, France and Russia -- for not resolving the long-running conflict in decades of mediation.

Russia and Turkey open monitoring centre for Nagorno-Karabakh region

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted a trilateral meeting in Moscow with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Vladimir Putin hosts trilateral meeting with Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders on Monday in their first post-war talks since the peace agreement halted six weeks of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Putin hosts Azeri, Armenian leaders meet in Moscow for talks amid peace deal

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on January 11 will discuss outstanding issues and implementation of the agreement.

Russia to host trilateral meeting with Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a trilateral meeting bringing together the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh agreement.

Putin to host meeting with Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders

Armenians took to the streets of capital city of Yerevan on Saturday to commemorate the soldiers killed during Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenia and Nagorno has declared three day nation wide mourning in honour of Nagorno-Karabakh war victims

Armenians honours Nagorno-Karabakh war victims

People of Armenia & Artsakh Republic have declared three-day nationwide mourning in honour of the Nagorno-Karabakh war victims. All flags have been lowered to half-mast in the country.

Armenia & Artsakh mourn Nagorno-Karabakh war victims

Armenia on Saturday began three days of mourning for the victims of clashes with Azerbaijan as the opposition kept up pressure on the country's leader to resign over the handling of the conflict.

More than 5,000 people including civilians were killed in Armenia and Azerbaijan when clashes erupted between the ex-Soviet enemies in late September over the breakaway region of Nagorno Karabakh.

The war ended in November with a Moscow-brokered peace agreement that saw the Armenians cede swathes of territory to Azerbaijan which has been backed by close ally Turkey.

The deal sparked fury in Armenia, with the opposition urging Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign.

On the first day of the national mourning on Saturday, Pashinyan was expected to lead a procession to a memorial complex in the capital Yerevan where victims of the conflict are buried.

The opposition planned to hold a separate march later in the day. Pashinyan's critics have called on supporters to stage a national strike from December 22.

"The entire nation has been through and is going through a nightmare," Pashinyan said in a video address ahead of the memorial march.

"Sometimes it seems that all of our dreams have been dashed and our optimism destroyed," he added.

The 45-year-old former newspaper editor was propelled to power in 2018 after he channelled widespread desire for change into a broad protest movement against corrupt post-Soviet elites.

But after six weeks of clashes with Azerbaijan, many have called Pashinyan a "traitor" for agreeing to what they say is a humiliating deal with Azerbaijan. He has so far refused to step down.

As part of the peace deal&nbsp;Russia deployed nearly 2,000 peacekeeping troops to Karabakh.

Moscow said on Friday that a Russian mine clearer was killed by a blast in Karabakh when an explosive went off earlier this week.

 
&nbsp;

Armenia on Saturday began three days of mourning for the victims of clashes with Azerbaijan as the opposition kept up pressure on the country's leader to resign over the handling of the conflict.

Armenia on Saturday began three days of mourning for the victims of clashes with Azerbaijan as the opposition kept up pressure on the country's leader to resign over the handling of the conflict. More than 5,000 people including civilians were killed in Armenia and Azerbaijan when clashes erupted between the ex-Soviet enemies in late September over the breakaway region of Nagorno Karabakh. The war ended in November with a Moscow-brokered peace agreement that saw the Armenians cede swathes of territory to Azerbaijan which has been backed by close ally Turkey. The deal sparked fury in Armenia, with the opposition urging Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign. On the first day of the national mourning on Saturday, Pashinyan was expected to lead a procession to a memorial complex in the capital Yerevan where victims of the conflict are buried. The opposition planned to hold a separate march later in the day. Pashinyan's critics have called on supporters to stage a national strike from December 22. "The entire nation has been through and is going through a nightmare," Pashinyan said in a video address ahead of the memorial march. "Sometimes it seems that all of our dreams have been dashed and our optimism destroyed," he added. The 45-year-old former newspaper editor was propelled to power in 2018 after he channelled widespread desire for change into a broad protest movement against corrupt post-Soviet elites. But after six weeks of clashes with Azerbaijan, many have called Pashinyan a "traitor" for agreeing to what they say is a humiliating deal with Azerbaijan. He has so far refused to step down. As part of the peace deal Russia deployed nearly 2,000 peacekeeping troops to Karabakh. Moscow said on Friday that a Russian mine clearer was killed by a blast in Karabakh when an explosive went off earlier this week.

Armenia mourns Karabakh war victims

Ethnic Armenian authorities in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh accused Azeri forces on Wednesday of capturing several dozen of their troops, putting further strain on a ceasefire deal that brought an end to bloody fighting in the region last month.

Nagorno-Karabakh accuses Azeri forces of capturing troops despite ceasefire

Armenia-Azerbaijan has started swapping Karabakh prisoners, more than a month after peace deal was signed over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Armenia-Azerbaijan begins swapping Karabakh prisoners

Fresh clashes have been reported between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh region. This violated the ceasefire agreement which was signed between the two nations.

Fresh clashes reported between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh

Russian army on Saturday reported ceasefire violation in Karabakh region. The ceasefire is being maintained between Azerbaijan and Armenia after both countries went to fight each other over Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Russian Defence Ministry, which has deployed peacekeepers to the region.

The Armenian army reported attacks from Azerbaijan on two villages that are under the control of Karabakh forces.

The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said "adequate countermeasures" had been taken against "provocations" from the other side but added that the truce was "currently being respected".&nbsp;

A spokesman for Russian peacekeeping forces told RIA Novosti press agency that requests to respect ceasefire had been sent to both parties after "exchanges of fire with automatic weapons". &nbsp;

Earlier in the day, Karabakh forces announced that three of their fighters had been wounded in an attack by Azerbaijani forces.&nbsp;

Azerbaijani troops attacked Armenian fighters on Friday evening and "three were wounded in the ensuing firefight", the territorial defence ministry said.

Six weeks of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, which left thousands dead on both sides, ended in a rout for the Armenian military.

The Moscow-sponsored deal in November handed territorial gains to Azerbaijan and allowed for some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to be deployed to the region.

(With AFP inputs)

Russian army on Saturday reported ceasefire violation in Karabakh region. The ceasefire is being maintained between Azerbaijan and Armenia after both countries went to fight each other over Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Russian army on Saturday reported ceasefire violation in Karabakh region. The ceasefire is being maintained between Azerbaijan and Armenia after both countries went to fight each other over Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russian Defence Ministry, which has deployed peacekeepers to the region. The Armenian army reported attacks from Azerbaijan on two villages that are under the control of Karabakh forces. The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said "adequate countermeasures" had been taken against "provocations" from the other side but added that the truce was "currently being respected". A spokesman for Russian peacekeeping forces told RIA Novosti press agency that requests to respect ceasefire had been sent to both parties after "exchanges of fire with automatic weapons". Earlier in the day, Karabakh forces announced that three of their fighters had been wounded in an attack by Azerbaijani forces. Azerbaijani troops attacked Armenian fighters on Friday evening and "three were wounded in the ensuing firefight", the territorial defence ministry said. Six weeks of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, which left thousands dead on both sides, ended in a rout for the Armenian military. The Moscow-sponsored deal in November handed territorial gains to Azerbaijan and allowed for some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to be deployed to the region. (With AFP inputs)

Ceasefire breached in Karabakh, says Russian army

Turkey condemned Iran's "offensive language" aimed at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over a controversial poem that can possibly be taken to suggest Iran's northwestern provinces belong to Azerbaijan. Erdogan recited the poem when he was in Azerbaijan capital Baku for parade marking its victory over Armenia in connection with disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Iran said that the poem could fan separatism among Iran's Azeri minority.

"We condemn the use of offensive language towards our president and our country over the recitation of a poem, whose meaning has been deliberately taken out of context," said Fahrettin Altun, Turkish presidential communications director.&nbsp;

After Erdogan's recital of the poem in Baku earlier this week, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted that "President Erdogan was not informed that what he ill-recited in Baku refers to the forcible separation of areas north of Aras from Iranian motherland".

According to Iran's ISNA news agency, the poem is "one of the separatist symbols of pan-Turkism". 
ISNA said the verses point to Aras and "complains of the distance between Azeri-speaking people on the two sides of the river".

Iranian authorities summoned Turkey's ambassador to Tehran to complain about Erdogan's "interventionist and unacceptable remarks".

In return, Turkey summoned Iran's ambassador to Ankara over the "baseless" claims.&nbsp;

(With IANS inputs)

Turkey condemned Iran's "offensive language" aimed at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over a controversial poem that can possibly be taken to suggest Iran's northwestern provinces belong to Azerbaijan.

Turkey condemned Iran's "offensive language" aimed at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over a controversial poem that can possibly be taken to suggest Iran's northwestern provinces belong to Azerbaijan. Erdogan recited the poem when he was in Azerbaijan capital Baku for parade marking its victory over Armenia in connection with disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Iran said that the poem could fan separatism among Iran's Azeri minority. "We condemn the use of offensive language towards our president and our country over the recitation of a poem, whose meaning has been deliberately taken out of context," said Fahrettin Altun, Turkish presidential communications director. After Erdogan's recital of the poem in Baku earlier this week, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted that "President Erdogan was not informed that what he ill-recited in Baku refers to the forcible separation of areas north of Aras from Iranian motherland". According to Iran's ISNA news agency, the poem is "one of the separatist symbols of pan-Turkism". ISNA said the verses point to Aras and "complains of the distance between Azeri-speaking people on the two sides of the river". Iranian authorities summoned Turkey's ambassador to Tehran to complain about Erdogan's "interventionist and unacceptable remarks". In return, Turkey summoned Iran's ambassador to Ankara over the "baseless" claims. (With IANS inputs)

Turkey protests Iran's 'offensive language' against Erdogan

Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of using phosphorus bombs during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The man who fueled the war, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is being hero-worshipped in Baku.

Gravitas: Did Azerbaijan commit war crimes?

Despite a month after the peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan was signed, the crisis is far from over.&nbsp;

In the latest, Yerevan has accused Baku of using phosphorous bombs during the fight.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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Azeri president, on the other hand, has said that the country will not shy of "breaking Armenia's back with an iron fist".&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/azerbaijans-struggle-will-continue-on-many-other-fronts-says-erdogan-during-military-parade-348859">Azerbaijan's struggle will continue on many other fronts, says Erdogan during military parade</a>

And amid the tense ties, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who fuelled this week war, has landed in Baku to survey the reins.&nbsp;

Erdogan received a hero's welcome on his two-day visit to Azerbaijan&nbsp;

He even reviewed a parade where Baku displayed the destroyed Armenian vehicles and dished out hate in plenty.&nbsp;

To the unversed, Erdogan provided military and diplomatic support to Azerbaijan during the conflict and even praised Baku's operations.&nbsp;

He even cheered "brotherly Azerbaijan with all our means and all our hearts".&nbsp;

"If the people of Armenia learn their lessons from what happened in Karabakh, this will be the start of a new era in the region," said Erdogan.&nbsp;

Karabakh is internationally recognised as a territory of Azerbaijan but until recently, it was populated and controlled by ethnic Armenians.&nbsp;

According to the peace deal brokered by Russia, broad strips of Nagorno Karabakh territory were handed over to Azerbaijan.&nbsp;

It also pushed Armenia into an internal political mess as thousands are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

Even though troops in Baku are celebrating their victory, over 5,000 military personnel died in six weeks of fighting and all this because one man couldn't keep himself from adding fuel to the fire.&nbsp; 
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Despite a month after the peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan was signed, the crisis is far from over. In the latest, Yerevan has accused Baku of using phosphorous bombs during the fight.

Despite a month after the peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan was signed, the crisis is far from over. In the latest, Yerevan has accused Baku of using phosphorous bombs during the fight. Watch | Azeri president, on the other hand, has said that the country will not shy of "breaking Armenia's back with an iron fist". Also read | Azerbaijan's struggle will continue on many other fronts, says Erdogan during military parade And amid the tense ties, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who fuelled this week war, has landed in Baku to survey the reins. Erdogan received a hero's welcome on his two-day visit to Azerbaijan He even reviewed a parade where Baku displayed the destroyed Armenian vehicles and dished out hate in plenty. To the unversed, Erdogan provided military and diplomatic support to Azerbaijan during the conflict and even praised Baku's operations. He even cheered "brotherly Azerbaijan with all our means and all our hearts". "If the people of Armenia learn their lessons from what happened in Karabakh, this will be the start of a new era in the region," said Erdogan. Karabakh is internationally recognised as a territory of Azerbaijan but until recently, it was populated and controlled by ethnic Armenians. According to the peace deal brokered by Russia, broad strips of Nagorno Karabakh territory were handed over to Azerbaijan. It also pushed Armenia into an internal political mess as thousands are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Even though troops in Baku are celebrating their victory, over 5,000 military personnel died in six weeks of fighting and all this because one man couldn't keep himself from adding fuel to the fire.

Erdogan, who fuelled Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict arrives in Baku

Thousands of Armenians blocked streets in the capital Yerevan and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over a ceasefire deal.

Armenia: Protesters block Yerevan streets over ceasefire deal

Thousands of protesters rallied in the Armenian capital on Saturday in a renewed call for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign over a controversial peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan announced the Moscow-brokered agreement on November 9, ending six weeks of war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh that left thousands dead.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/strategic-inferences-from-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-2020-post-ceasefire-347702">Strategic inferences from Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict 2020, post ceasefire</a>

Under the deal, Armenia agreed to cede three districts to Baku in addition four others Azerbaijani forces had won back during the fighting that had been controlled by Armenian separatists since the 1990s.

The decision sparked fury in Armenia, where demonstrators stormed and ransacked government buildings and have since staged near daily demonstrations in Yerevan, demanding that Pashinyan step down.

While the prime minister has so far weathered the storm, Saturday saw the biggest rally yet, with some 10,000 protesters gathering in downtown Yerevan's Liberty Square, according to AFP journalists at the scene.

The protesters chanted "Nikol the traitor" and "Armenia without Nikol" and waved the flags of Armenia and Karabakh.&nbsp;

"Nikol is a political corpse. I am not planning on following a corpse into the grave," Manya Khachatryan, 49, told AFP.&nbsp;

"Because of him our homeland, our people have received such wounds that it will take several generations to heal them," she said.

Pashinyan, whose wife and son were at the front during the conflict, has said the peace deal was Armenia's only option and that it ensured Karabakh's survival.

Even though the ethnic Armenian enclave lost swathes of territory, it will see its future guaranteed by nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to be deployed for a renewable five-year mandate.

On Wednesday Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Pashinyan's "courage" in agreeing to the peace deal, calling the decision "necessary" but "painful".

The Armenian authorities last month said they had thwarted a plot to assassinate the prime minister.&nbsp;

Pashinyan has said he has no plans to resign and in a televised address on Saturday said that his government's priority is returning Armenia's prisoners of war and the bodies of those who died in the fighting. 
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Thousands of protesters rallied in the Armenian capital on Saturday in a renewed call for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign over a controversial peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

Thousands of protesters rallied in the Armenian capital on Saturday in a renewed call for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign over a controversial peace agreement with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan announced the Moscow-brokered agreement on November 9, ending six weeks of war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh that left thousands dead. Also read | Strategic inferences from Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict 2020, post ceasefire Under the deal, Armenia agreed to cede three districts to Baku in addition four others Azerbaijani forces had won back during the fighting that had been controlled by Armenian separatists since the 1990s. The decision sparked fury in Armenia, where demonstrators stormed and ransacked government buildings and have since staged near daily demonstrations in Yerevan, demanding that Pashinyan step down. While the prime minister has so far weathered the storm, Saturday saw the biggest rally yet, with some 10,000 protesters gathering in downtown Yerevan's Liberty Square, according to AFP journalists at the scene. The protesters chanted "Nikol the traitor" and "Armenia without Nikol" and waved the flags of Armenia and Karabakh. "Nikol is a political corpse. I am not planning on following a corpse into the grave," Manya Khachatryan, 49, told AFP. "Because of him our homeland, our people have received such wounds that it will take several generations to heal them," she said. Pashinyan, whose wife and son were at the front during the conflict, has said the peace deal was Armenia's only option and that it ensured Karabakh's survival. Even though the ethnic Armenian enclave lost swathes of territory, it will see its future guaranteed by nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to be deployed for a renewable five-year mandate. On Wednesday Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Pashinyan's "courage" in agreeing to the peace deal, calling the decision "necessary" but "painful". The Armenian authorities last month said they had thwarted a plot to assassinate the prime minister. Pashinyan has said he has no plans to resign and in a televised address on Saturday said that his government's priority is returning Armenia's prisoners of war and the bodies of those who died in the fighting.

Thousands rally in Armenia in renewed call for PM's dismissal

Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Azerbaijan's defence ministry released a video showing a tank flying an Azerbaijani flag leading a column of trucks into the Lachin district.

AFP journalists in Lachin town saw a column of Azerbaijani trucks flanked by military vehicles from Russia, which brokered the peace settlement.

Armenia agreed to hand over three districts around Karabakh — Aghdam, Lachin and Kalbajar — as part of the deal that stopped an Azerbaijani offensive that had reclaimed swathes of territory lost to Armenian separatists in a 1990s war.&nbsp;

Like in Aghdam and Kalbajar, residents of Lachin cleared out frantically ahead of the handover, taking livestock, firewood, furniture and even plastic water pipes.

Some residents have burnt their homes as they left, and on Monday evening two houses on the outskirts of Lachin town were in flames.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/armenians-at-a-crossroads-on-last-route-out-of-karabakh-345866">Armenians at a crossroads on last route out of Karabakh</a>

Local official Davit Davtyan said residents had been given until 6:00 pm to leave, except those allowed to stay along the Lachin corridor that runs to Armenia's border.&nbsp;

'Nowhere to go'

The peace deal saw some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers deployed between the two sides and along the corridor, a 60-kilometre (35-mile) route through Lachin that connects Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to Armenia.

The column of a dozen Azerbaijani military trucks was moving slowly overnight along the corridor in the direction of the Armenian border, with Russian military vehicles at the head and rear.&nbsp;

Davtyan said some 200 people would be allowed to stay to maintain local infrastructure.

"Residents who were not able to leave because they had nowhere to go said they would stay and see what happens on Tuesday," he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh broke from Azerbaijan's control in a war after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union that left some 30,000 dead.&nbsp;

The region declared independence but it was never recognised by any country, including Armenia which strongly backs the separatists.&nbsp;

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The peace accord signed on November 9 was reached after six weeks of fighting that saw Azerbaijan's army overwhelm separatists forces and threaten to advance on Stepanakert.

Under the agreement, Armenia is losing control of seven districts that it seized around Karabakh in the 1990s — many Azerbaijanis who were forced to flee are now planning to return.

The separatists are retaining control over most of Karabakh's Soviet-era territory but have lost the key town of Shusha.

While some Armenians have been fleeing the districts ceded to Azerbaijan, others in Lachin had nowhere to go.

In the village of Aghavno along the Lachin corridor, 60-year-old Araksya Gyokchakyan watched residents load furniture and firewood into cars and trucks even as she was set on remaining behind.

"I don't know where to go. I stayed here during the war. It's my home," she told AFP.

Meanwhile, other Armenians have been returning to Karabakh itself.

Russia's defence ministry, which is helping with the returns, said on Monday that more than 25,000 people who fled the fighting had been brought back.

Russia's role grows

Moscow's peacemaker role has overshadowed France and the United States — the three countries that form the Minsk Group, which led talks on the Karabakh conflict for decades but failed to achieve a lasting agreement.&nbsp;

France's position in future negotiations may be further under threat after Azerbaijani lawmakers last week demanded the country be expelled from the Minsk Group.

The move came after the French Senate adopted a non-binding resolution calling on France to recognise Karabakh as an independent state.&nbsp;

Azerbaijan has also called for its staunch ally Turkey to play a role in the peacekeeping mission, but Moscow insists Ankara will not be involved.&nbsp;

Since the announcement of the peace deal — which leaves Karabakh's future political status in limbo — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been under fire at home.

Protesters have regularly taken to the streets of the capital Yerevan, branding him a "traitor" for agreeing to the deal and demanding his resignation.

Demonstrators rallied again on Monday, including outside the French embassy in Yerevan, appealing for help in finding soldiers still missing after the fighting.

While Armenia has reported more than 2,300 military casualties, thought to be an underestimate, Azerbaijan has not disclosed any military losses.

More than 100 civilians were reported killed on both sides.

Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Azerbaijani forces on Tuesday moved into the final district given up by Armenia in a peace deal that ended weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan's defence ministry released a video showing a tank flying an Azerbaijani flag leading a column of trucks into the Lachin district. AFP journalists in Lachin town saw a column of Azerbaijani trucks flanked by military vehicles from Russia, which brokered the peace settlement. Armenia agreed to hand over three districts around Karabakh — Aghdam, Lachin and Kalbajar — as part of the deal that stopped an Azerbaijani offensive that had reclaimed swathes of territory lost to Armenian separatists in a 1990s war. Like in Aghdam and Kalbajar, residents of Lachin cleared out frantically ahead of the handover, taking livestock, firewood, furniture and even plastic water pipes. Some residents have burnt their homes as they left, and on Monday evening two houses on the outskirts of Lachin town were in flames. Also read| Armenians at a crossroads on last route out of Karabakh Local official Davit Davtyan said residents had been given until 6:00 pm to leave, except those allowed to stay along the Lachin corridor that runs to Armenia's border. 'Nowhere to go' The peace deal saw some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers deployed between the two sides and along the corridor, a 60-kilometre (35-mile) route through Lachin that connects Karabakh's main city Stepanakert to Armenia. The column of a dozen Azerbaijani military trucks was moving slowly overnight along the corridor in the direction of the Armenian border, with Russian military vehicles at the head and rear. Davtyan said some 200 people would be allowed to stay to maintain local infrastructure. "Residents who were not able to leave because they had nowhere to go said they would stay and see what happens on Tuesday," he said. Nagorno-Karabakh broke from Azerbaijan's control in a war after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union that left some 30,000 dead. The region declared independence but it was never recognised by any country, including Armenia which strongly backs the separatists. × The peace accord signed on November 9 was reached after six weeks of fighting that saw Azerbaijan's army overwhelm separatists forces and threaten to advance on Stepanakert. Under the agreement, Armenia is losing control of seven districts that it seized around Karabakh in the 1990s — many Azerbaijanis who were forced to flee are now planning to return. The separatists are retaining control over most of Karabakh's Soviet-era territory but have lost the key town of Shusha. While some Armenians have been fleeing the districts ceded to Azerbaijan, others in Lachin had nowhere to go. In the village of Aghavno along the Lachin corridor, 60-year-old Araksya Gyokchakyan watched residents load furniture and firewood into cars and trucks even as she was set on remaining behind. "I don't know where to go. I stayed here during the war. It's my home," she told AFP. Meanwhile, other Armenians have been returning to Karabakh itself. Russia's defence ministry, which is helping with the returns, said on Monday that more than 25,000 people who fled the fighting had been brought back. Russia's role grows Moscow's peacemaker role has overshadowed France and the United States — the three countries that form the Minsk Group, which led talks on the Karabakh conflict for decades but failed to achieve a lasting agreement. France's position in future negotiations may be further under threat after Azerbaijani lawmakers last week demanded the country be expelled from the Minsk Group. The move came after the French Senate adopted a non-binding resolution calling on France to recognise Karabakh as an independent state. Azerbaijan has also called for its staunch ally Turkey to play a role in the peacekeeping mission, but Moscow insists Ankara will not be involved. Since the announcement of the peace deal — which leaves Karabakh's future political status in limbo — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been under fire at home. Protesters have regularly taken to the streets of the capital Yerevan, branding him a "traitor" for agreeing to the deal and demanding his resignation. Demonstrators rallied again on Monday, including outside the French embassy in Yerevan, appealing for help in finding soldiers still missing after the fighting. While Armenia has reported more than 2,300 military casualties, thought to be an underestimate, Azerbaijan has not disclosed any military losses. More than 100 civilians were reported killed on both sides.

Azerbaijani forces enter last district handed over by Armenia

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