YEREVAN. Aug 11 (Interfax) - The Defense Ministry of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has claimed to have prevented an attempt by an Azeri sabotage and reconnaissance group to enter its territory.
"At about 4:20 a.m. [Moscow time on Saturday], the Azeri armed forces made another attempt of a sabotage and reconnaissance sortie through the southern Gadrut and southeastern Martuni sections of the contact line between the Karabakh and Azeri forces," the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Ministry told Interfax.
"Measures taken by advance units of the Nagorno-Karabakh army have prevented an offensive by an Azeri special armed forces unit. The enemy sustained losses and was thrown back to the initial positions. There are no losses on the Armenian side," it said.
The Armenian Defense Ministry has reported that Azerbaijan has violated ceasefire agreements 20 times over the past 24 hours.
The ministry told Interfax that over 1,400 shots have been fired from firearms of various calibers upon Armenian positions over this time.
"Response fire has been opened 11 times, and 86 shots have been fired. There have been no casualties on the Armenian side. Armenia opens fire only in case of adjusted fire from Azerbaijan's side," it said.
Meanwhile, military and civilian officials in the Qazax district of Azerbaijan denied reports that Azeri forces had crossed the contact line with the Armenian forces and occupied several communities.
The situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict area worsened in the early hours of August 2. Reports on armed clashes have been coming from Baku, Yerevan, and Stepanakert on a daily basis since them. The parties have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreements. There have been conflicting reports on the number of those killed and injured in the conflict area.